Malinta Tunnel in Corregidor Island
Malinta Tunnel used to be a bomb shelter during the World War II. When it was dug in 1922, they found lots of leeches, which is why they baptized it with that name, “Malinta”, meaning “lots of leeches.”
IMAGE Philippine Primer
IMAGE Philippine Primer
P200 is charged upon entrance for the Lights and Sound Presentation–an illustrated documentary of the World War II events. During the tour, you’ll get to see the works scripted by National Artist and film director Lamberto Avellana, and sculptures made by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.
It is said that the American took 10 years to build the tunnel, which spans 835 feet long, and 24 feet wide. During the siege of Corregidor, General Macarthur set up the headquarters of USAFFE inside the tunnel where men and women could live and work. It is also designed to house huge quantity of ammunition, food, supplies, and an underground hospital with a 1,000-bed capacity. When you traverse through the dark and eerie tunnel, you’ll get to notice some bomb-damaged portion of the laterals, untouched.
Aside from that, this tunnel also served as the seat of the Philippine Commonwealth Government under President Manuel L. Quezon, and inauguration also took place for their second term at the tunnel’s west entrance in 1941.
