Tracing Back Our History in Corregidor Island

Corregidor Island is just remarkable! I'm not just saying this because I'm Filipino or something like that. No, it just simply is remarkable! And that's coming from me! I mean, I am not a history buff, I don't find history to be fun. In all honesty, History class is what I call "nap time" in school. :P Shhh!

Don't tell my cousin about this, but I wasn't really all that hyped up about visiting Corregidor Island at first. I was grateful and excited about the journey to the island but not about the actual island.  She kept asking me if I was excited and I would always nod and say yes to be polite. However, when we actually got there? I cannot say thank you to her enough!

Corregidor Island is a place full of wonders, full of history. Obviously, since it was the battle place of the Japanese, Americans, and Filipinos during the World War II. 

As some of you might know, the Island is shaped like a cute tadpole. It is located in the Southwestern part of the Luzon Island in the Philippines.

You have to ride a ferry to get to the Island. It doesn't take too long though, so don't worry about getting sea sick or anything.

But before that, you have to book your tour with Sun Cruises first. You can do this on the actual day, but it would be better if you book your tickets in advance because chances are... there might not be any more slots left. I asked Simple Pleasures Travel and Tours Consultancy to book mine so it would go more smoothly, and I wouldn't have any problem. Heheh!

The check-in counters open 1 hour and close 30 minutes before the departure time. I advice you to get there earlier since, in my experience, there were already a lot of people waiting in line when we got there. The line to the counter was getting longer, and the line to the bathroom was also getting longer. You wouldn't want to miss your ride. For further information, click here.

Once you check in, you'll be given a sticker that will serve as your ticket to the ferry, as well as lunch or dinner or whatever you have booked for. You can stick it on your chest or wherever you want. I stuck mine on my arm. JUST DON'T LOSE YOUR STICKER! On your ticket is your seat number and bus number. You'll sit accordingly. My seat number was 162 and my bus number was 6.

The lower deck of the ferry has two bathrooms for the ladies on the left side and two bathrooms for the gents on the right side. I'm not sure about the upper deck though, since we were assigned to the lower deck which I didn't really mind since I don't really like too much sun exposure and the heat that day was extreme. Oh, and  you don't have to worry about the bathroom once you're in the island either because each location has one for each gender. :)

Anyway, once you get to the island, you'll immediately see the buses. They're parked right in front and they have their respective numbers stuck on their windshields. Go to your bus and choose your seat. The bus can accommodate 45 people since there are 8 seats which can accommodate 5 people. Now remember, your chosen seat will be your permanent seat. Meaning, you'll have to sit there for the rest of the tour, you can't change seats with another person. That is to avoid any conflicts or confusion. 

The tour will start once everyone is accounted for. On the way, the tour guide will explain about the places that you'll be visiting. Our first location was the Malinta Tunnel which means "Tunnel full of Leeches". Don't worry, there aren't any leeches left. The reason why it is called that is because the 1,000 prisoners from the Bilibid Prison in Manila who were provided by the Philippine Commonwealth to do the labor found many leeches at the time.

Malinta tunnel was built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Initially, it was used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker but later made into a hospital with only 1,000 beds during the war. After their defeat, this is where the Japanese are believed to have committed harakiri or seppuku, which literally translates to "cutting the belly", it is a form of Japanese ritual suicide by disembowelment. But according to history, they committed suicide after getting trapped in there by detonating explosives within the tunnel on  February 23, 1945. The collapsed parts of the tunnel were never excavated.

On the way to Malinta tunnel, you'll see great sceneries! Now, pictures can't really give justice to the actual thing, but I still took some, so take a look:

If you want a better view, you can go up the light house on the island. :)

After going in the Malinta Tunnel, you'll be going to lunch at the Corregidor Inn! Yum! It's a buffet so don't worry about not getting enough food to satisfy your hunger. Their food is delicious, too! Although I don't know about the Chop Suey since I generally don't like it and therefore did not eat it. The Inn is located at the top, so you get to eat while enjoying a great view of the Island!

Many statues can be found in the Island, statues of our heroes and the statue of Buddha, as well as shrines. Each of them are very well preserved. I took pics of all of them, but it got accidentally deleted. Boo. But here's some of the ones that were salvaged.

Aside from the statues and shrines, the island is also full of artillery! Real ones, too. Corregidor Island was fortified to defend the entrance to Manila Bay and the city of Manila from attacks by enemy warships during the war, hence the island being full of coastal artillery and ammunition magazines. You can take as much pictures as you want with the artillery, you can touch them, too. We even sat on them. :P Do excuse me if my photos are weird. I was trying hard not to show my fascination towards guns on my face because that face would be weirder. Hahah!

Well, if there are guns, there's bound to be ruins, right? Corregidor Island is just full of them. Actual ruins! From actual battles! They were actual buildings from the actual war and ruined by actual bombs! Even someone like me found it amazing! I also find it somehow ironic since the cement used in making these were bought from Japan.

Looking at these ruins, it makes you wonder... how did these ruins look like before? How did the people who lived there manage? What were they doing when they were bombed? How many actually survived and how many precious lives were taken away because of the war? I don't know. But being in the island made me... grateful.

I have lived and thought of my life as my own and no one else's. But being there made me realize, I owe each of the unnamed heroes, the soldiers who fought for our country, my life. If it weren't for them, I wouldn't be enjoying freedom like this. Who knows? Maybe if they didn't fight for our country, we would be enslaved by other countries and ceased to be Filipinos.

So, this is to pay tribute to not only the heroes whose names were recorded in our history book but as well those whose names were not. Thank you!

I encourage all of you to go to Corregidor Island and bask in the history of our country. For those who don't have weak hearts, you can stay overnight in the island and join their Ghost Hunting activity later in the evening.

You can contact Simple Pleasures Travel and Tours like me, so you wouldn't have any problems. :)
For bookings/inquiries, you can contact them through their direct line: (02) 843-4653, their mobile land line: 785-1225, and their mobile: 09178848413. You can also visit their facebook page by just clicking: Simple Pleasures Travel and Tours Facebook Page.

Check-in Steps at the Mactan International Airport

Konnichi wa!

In case you haven't read my last post, I experienced my first solo flight just recently. I flew from Cebu to Manila. I was sooo nervous since it was the very first time I flied solo! And I didn't know anything about the check-in process. I didn't really know what to expect. So, I called Simple Pleasures Travel and Tours Consultancy and asked about it since there's someone there who's Cebuano. She reassured me by answering all my questions and concerns.

I also did some research beforehand, but it didn't really suffice. I wanted to have at least a little bit of knowledge about the check-in process and the rules. But most blogs, if not all, was just about that at NAIA. I found only one blog post that was helpful, but I wasn't sure of its accuracy since it was posted two years ago.

So, I figured I could post about the steps of checking in at the Mactan International Airport to help, even just a little, those who are like me - a first timer at flying who is a bit paranoid. :P Do excuse me for the lack of photos and if the photos I do have are blurry. I was just so nervous; my hands were shaking so much. Next time, I vow to take more legible photos!

Step One: Look for the check-in sign.
From the entrance, the check-in sign would be on your left. It is hung on the ceiling for people to easily see it. Even those who are short like me. Go towards it, and follow the arrow sign right below the CHECK-IN sign, pointing to the right. You then walk up the ramp. There's a security guard waiting at the top to check your ticket and ID, so it's better if you get them ready in advance. I saw the other passengers holding theirs in hand, so I just followed them. ;)

Step Two: Next is the x-ray.
When you go to the x-ray, you have to take off all your metals: your earrings, rings, necklaces, belts, etc., as well as your gadgets, and put it in a plastic tray which is provided by the airport, or you can just shove them all inside your bag. You then put your bags including your trolley, backpack, sling bag, handbag, absolutely everything! You gotta' lift them up yourselves. I'm not sure, but I think that's because everyone is cautious about the bullet-planting incident. Or maybe that's just me. Hahah. Anyway, after going through the x-ray and collecting your stuff, just follow the crowd to the check-in counters~ :P

Step Three: You look at the monitor that indicates if your flight is open for check in or not.

Your flight will be available for check-in two hours prior to your flight departure schedule. You can check in at any of the counters that is in line with your flight number. Mine was 5J 580 bound for Manila, so I could check in at counter 17-24.

*Note: The check-in time is not correlated to the flight's delay. So, if a flight gets delayed somehow, that doesn't change the check-in time.

You could also check in yourself via the check-in kiosks near the counters. I think this is more efficient since you don't really need to wait two hours before the flight to check in when you use this. And you can also choose your seat with this, too. The kiosks are touchscreen, and all you have to do is read and follow the instructions. It's really easy. But if you are having problems, you can also ask the airport staff for assistance. Don't worry, they're very accommodating. I promise. :) I landed the wingside seat thanks to Manong's help~!

Step Four: Baggage Check-in.

Even if you have already checked yourself in using the check-in kiosks, you still have to go wait in line at the counter if you have check-in baggage. Just prepare your ID, ticket, and printed boarding pass.

*Note: Your carry on or hand-carry baggage cannot exceed 7kg, and your check-in baggage must not exceed your specific baggage allowance. Since you'll have to pay Php200.00 for every 1kg that exceeds. Ouch!

For more information regarding baggage weight and size, click here.

Step Five: X-ray. Again.
After checking in your baggage, head towards your right to reach the second x-ray. At the last second and last x-ray, you have to take-off all your metals again. You have to put your phone in your bag or in the plastic tray similar to the ones provided in the first x-ray. Actually, the process is just a repeat of the first one. But be sure to have everything ready, that nothing was forgotten because I don't think you can go back out after going through here.

*Note: Liquids must not be more than 100ml and only a total amount of 1000ml is allowed. No sharp objects are allowed either. They'll confiscate or tell you to check in any items that are not allowed in your hand-carry bag once they detect it in the x-ray machines.

Step Six: Boarding Gates.
Look for the sign above that says "Domestic Boarding Gates" and head towards the direction the arrow is facing.

You'll findyourself in the departure lobby first, go straight to reach the boarding gates. It's just right up ahead. Find your gate first so you won't get lost and be late for boarding. You have to board the plane at least 15 minutes before your flight.

Step Seven: Wait for boarding.
Wait for your flight patiently. Chances are it's gonna' be delayed, so you should just get yourself comfy. If you're worried about your phone's battery getting drained and you don't have a powerbank, fret not. The airport has free charging stations. I noticed one near the check-in counters, and one in the departure lobby. All you need is your charger. You can charge while waiting for your boarding time or read a book. Just be sure to listen to all the announcements, and you'll be just fine.

Have a safe trip! :)

Do comment below if you have some questions, and I'll answer them right away! :)

My First Solo Flight at 21

As the title suggests, I experienced my first solo flight at 21 years old.

It was really nerve-racking for me since I really didn't know anything. 

I was reallyyy nervous! If you've read my last post, you'd notice that I'm a bit of a worrywart; I'm a little paranoid. I know some people would be really excited about flying solo, but well, I'm just not one of them.

I arrived at the Mactan International Airport pretty early for my check-in (*Note: there are two parts of the airport in Cebu: one for International flights, and another for Domestic flights). I know that the check-in starts two hours before the flight schedule, but I just really didn't want to be late, and I had wanted to still have ample amount of time to go back or to ask someone to go to my house and get something just in case I forgot anything important. Anyway, I arrived around 9:03 a.m. and my flight schedule was 11:50 a.m. I wasn't that early. But still. I suggest that you grab a taxi in advance or hitch a ride with someone you know to the airport since I could have arrived much earlier if I didn't have such a difficult time getting a taxi.

The check-in wasn't what I expected at all. And the airport staff was very helpful and polite, as well. I checked in myself using their check-in kiosk, which I didn't notice at first. Thankfully, an airport staff was pleasant enough to tell me about it and personally help me with it. Thanks to you, Sir, checking in was a breeze for me!

Unfortunately, though, my flight got delayed. And I got really bored. I was also devastated since my cellphone's battery was running out. If my battery ran out, I wouldn't have anything to contact my cousin with when I arrive in Manila. Fortunately, there's a free charging station near the check-in counters and the departure lounge. I just had to wait for the ones who were already charging there to finish.

I was seriously worried that my flight would be cancelled or something. I mean, it wouldn't be the first time I'd have my hopes up and then something would inevitably crush it. My dad has told me every year since 2013 that he'd let me go to Dubai; that never happened. Last year, my family was supposed to go to Hong Kong. Unfortunately, my aunt who is a government employee, did not have a permit to travel because no one in our family knew it was necessary. Silly us. We had to go home from the airport. So, I was half-convinced that my flight would be cancelled. And I was readying myself to resign from the situation if they would suddenly announce it. So, imagine my relief and joy when they announced that we were already boarding the plane. Hoo!

I was ecstatic when I boarded the plane and sat on my seat. Even more so when I found out that I had the seat to the wingside! It was a pleasant and welcome surprise! The airport staff who helped me said it wasn't, so I didn't even think that I'd get the seat that I so wanted.

It was really cool inside the plane. The air conditioner was emitting something like fog. My cousin thinks they were pressurizing the cabin? Sorry, I'm not really sure I described it to her right, so maybe that's not what they were doing? I'll ask next time. You could also comment down below if you know what I'm talking about. :P

The takeoff started slow, as in the plane ran slowly on the ground, took a few turns, and sped up, and lifted off into the sky. Honestly, when it lifted off, I thought we were going to fall or something. It was making some kind of noise, as well. But since no one, except for the children who were crying, was panicking or anything, I kept myself in check and reassured myself that everything's gonna' be okay. I busied myself by looking out the window. 

When the plane stabilized in the air, it felt amazing. The view was amazing. It was simply amazing!

Here, take a look at the photos I took:

All in all, traveling alone was really tiring for me. But I think that's just because it was my first time, and I haven't really flown to anywhere since the fourth grade. I was fretting too much because of my paranoia, and I had to be on my guard the whole time for any announcements. I had to strain my ears, too, since I couldn't really hear the announcements that clearly. I couldn't do things simultaneously; I couldn't charge my phone and go to the restroom for even a couple of minutes. The charging station or machine wasn't anywhere near the comfort room, and I couldn't just leave my phone there. I'm not very trusting, especially towards strangers. I was also carrying my laptop which was very heavy, and my too-full sling bag; it looked like I had put rocks in it. It felt like it, too.

But if you would ask me if I would be willing to fly alone again? The answer is a huge YES!

There's a feeling of pride when you manage to go to somewhere unfamiliar with just yourself. I don't know, maybe it's just the introvert in me talking, but being alone felt... relaxing. And accomplishing something I never thought I could or would ever do, or at least not this soon anyway, I felt really proud of myself. I conquered my fears and did it! I'd literally pat myself in the back if I could for this~

Next, I'll post the checking in steps at the Mactan Internation Airport. :)