Located just 48 kilometers off Manila Bay, Corregidor Island has historically been fortified with coastal artillery to defend the country’s capital from attacks of enemy warships – from the colonial rules of Spain, the United States and Japan to the establishment of the second Philippine republic in 1946.
The tadpole-shaped island played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces during World War 2. It was heavily bombarded and the ruins serve as military memorial to American, Filipino and Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the battlefield. As it is, Corregidor is one of the most important historic and tourist sites in the country.