After the Japanese Memorial Garden, we were on our way to the vast tunnel systems underneath the island. The Malinta Tunnels were originally designed to be bomb-proof hospitals for the wounded troops. As a hospital, the tunnels could fit 1000 beds, and were manned by Filipina nurses, and there are no end of stories depicting their bravery and their refusal to leave their patients during the Japanese invasions.
The tunnels were also used as a seat of government by President Quezon during the Japanese bombing of the city of Manila. Brigadier General George Moore, Texas A&M Class of 1908, held an 24-man A&M class reunion with all of the Aggie soldiers stationed in the tunnels. The tunnels protected fuel tanks which were used to provide power to the whole island.
The tunnels themselves are quite large. The main tunnel, running east to west, is 831 feet long, 24 feet wide, and 18 feet high. There are 11 lateral tunnels on the south side of the tunnel and 13 lateral tunnels on the north side of the tunnel. Each lateral was about 160 feet long and 15 feet wide.
Corregidor has a resort, and thus provides the option of staying the night. There is a more in-depth tour of the island, covering the bits that weren't covered during the day tour, that includes a walk-through of the tunnel laterals that were skipped, including the hospital tunnels.
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