Bataan is a province on the Philippine island of Luzon Region III. Its capital is Balanga. Shipwrecks and coral reefs dot the waters of Subic Bay, off its northwest coast. Farther south, marine turtles are hatched at the Pawikan Conservation Center. A towering memorial cross and a shrine commemorating WWII’s Battle of Bataan crown Mount Samat in central Bataan. On the east coast, birdlife thrives in the Balanga City Wetland and Nature Park. A 3 hour travel time from Manila is a worthy visit to this town which has full of history.

A guided historical tram tour on the small island of Corregidor. Visiting war memorial sites, learning its rich history, and paying tribute to the heroes.

Standing solemnly on Corregidor’s peak is the white-marbled saucer-shaped Pacific War Memorial. Built in 1968 by the US Government for 1.23 million dollars (other sources reported it to be at 3 million dollars), it was dedicated to the Filipino and American forces that fought in the Pacific during the Second World War. A sculpture depicting a wounded Filipino fighter being aided by an American soldier is installed at the memorial’s entrance, symbolizing the friendship between the two nations.

This massive edifice was built in 1915 to house the 60th Coast Artillery anti-aircraft regiment, the US Regular Army, the 91st Coast Artillery and the Philippine Scouts. Composed of two three-story buildings, its design was based on our country’s tropical climate; high ceiling, large openings and perimeter galleries for ventilation. The windows were interestingly made of capiz (mother of pearl) sliding panels like those found on Spanish Colonial era houses in the country. All that can be seen now are the slowly deteriorating skeletons of the barracks after it was bombed by the invading Japanese forces in December 1941.

Battery Way is armed with four 12-inch mortar carriages capable of firing highly explosive shells as far as 8.3 miles or 13.35 km in any direction. Each mortar required a crew of at least 14 men to load and fire the shells. The mortars could be lifted to a trajectory between 45 to 70 degrees, which made them ideal for targeting enemies entrenched in higher ground in Bataan. The battery was named after Second Lt. Henry Way of the 4th U.S. Artillery, who died in service in the Philippines in 1900.

The memorial shrine complex was built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought against the Imperial Japanese Army during World War II. The Memorial Cross is a towering structure at the highest point of Mount Samat, 555 m (1,821 ft) above sea level.

The museum was built as a tribute to our fallen heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice in 1942. It showcases tragic moments of the war, especially the horrendous Bataan Death March where thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died.