Corrigedor, Chinese Cemetery, Chinatown and Cathedrals

In January the senior missionary excursion took us to Corregidor Island. We left at 5:00am to catch the Ferry to the island.

Under Spanish rule, Corregidor served not only as a fortress of defense, a penal institution, and a station for Customs inspection, but also as a signal outpost to warn Manila of the approacy of hostile ships.  Corregidor comes from the Spanish word corregir meaning "to correct."  One stopry states that the island was called Isla del Corregidor (literally, Island of the Corrector) due to the Spanish customs system, wherein all ships entering Manila Bay were required to stop and have their documents checked and 'corrected'.

World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese forces.  The island was heavily bombarded udring the latter part of the war, and the ruins serve as a military memorial to American, Filipino and Japanese soldiers who served or lost their lives on the battlefield.  Corregidor is one of the important historic and tourist sites of the country.

Boarding our Ferry to Corrigedor in Manila Bay

Welcome to Corregidor Island

Driving around the north by of
Corregidor Island .. Shark invested
waters. Many prisoners lost their
lives trying to swim across the bay.  

The Malinta Tunnel is a tunnel complex built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers on the island of Corregidor.  It was initially used as a bomb-proof storage and personnel bunker, but was later equipped as a 1,000 bed hospital.  The main tunnel, running east to west is 831 feet long and 24 feet wide and 18 feet high.  Branching off from this main shaft are 13 lateral tunnels on the north side and 11 lateral tunnels on the south side.  Each lateral averaged 160 feet in length and 15 feet in width.

On Corregidor, MacArthur was fearless. During Japanese bombing raids, writes biographer Arthur Herman, MacArthur frequently stood outside in the open “impervious to the destruction around him.” He once told Quezon, who scolded him for taking such risks, that “the Japanese haven’t yet made the bomb with my name on it.”

In Washington, political and military leaders knew that there were no reinforcements on the way to the Philippines, so they ordered MacArthur — against his wishes and repeated protests — to escape from Corregidor and the Philippines and go to Australia where he could organize and lead allied forces in a campaign to retake the archipelago.

There were no reinforcements waiting in Australia either. MacArthur was furious with Washington. He believed, with justification, that Washington had deceived him. He privately criticized President Franklin Roosevelt’s “Europe first” policy. MacArthur, who famously said, “I came through and I shall return,” was determined to keep his promise to retake the Philippines.

Meanwhile, American and Filipino forces were being slowly starved into submission on Bataan and Corregidor. Bataan fell on April 9, 1942. U.S. General Jonathan Wainwright, left in command by MacArthur, had little choice but to surrender the island. On May 6, 1942, at a house (which still stands) located on the side of a small hill near one of the island’s beaches, Wainwright surrendered his forces to Japan’s General Masaharu Homma. It was a humiliating defeat for the American army, and was made even worse by the atrocities that followed in the infamous Bataan Death March.

MacArthur eventually kept his promise, but it took three years for U.S. forces under his command to retake the Philippines.  

This past weekend we went to the Chinese Cemetery and Chinatown.  Very interesting crypts that were in the Cemetery.  We had a guide who showed us around the cemetery and told us of some of the customs of the Chinese burials.  Very interesting indeed.

 We were told that cemetery crypts were leased.  A certain amount was paid for a 25 year lease, then the family had the option to renew the lease for another 25 years for a price.  After that lease expired, they were invited to pay another amount to keep the crypt indefinitely.  If the payments were not made, the crypt was destroyed, coffin and bones removed, and the bones were cremated and put into a wall that surrounded the cemetery.  It was really creepy to see a crypt that had been taken apart and the top of the casket.

Turtleback or Turtle-back tombs or turtle shell tombs are a particular type of tombs commonly found in some coastal areas.  It is significant that this Turtle-back tomb was in this cemetery. It is commonly said that the tomb imitates the shape of a tortoise due to those animals' longevity, thus promising long live to the descendants of the deceased.

Most of the tombs had a two lions guarding the crypt. In the top of the tomb there was a dragon to ward of evil spirits. Then on one side of the crypt was an oven, where the descendants burned symbolic money (phoney bills) and the other was a  place where they could burn incense.  I understand that every year families come to their respective tombs and celebrate the life of the deceased.  It is all very symbolic.

Concubines were buried to the left of the deceased husband and wives to the right side of the husband.  We noticed several tombs where there were only husband and concubines.  We kind of think there is a 'pattern' here as it was evident there was a vacant grave, the wife was still alive.

After our trip to the Chinese Cemetery, we went to Chinatown and walked through some of the tine streets there.  Of course, there were a couple of churches we were able to visit as well.
One thing I have really love in my travels, is going to the various cathedrals or churches around the world.  Philippines is by far one of the most religious countries I have ever been to.  They have billboards encouraging people to seek the Lord, Find Faith in God, quotes of scripture, etc., but I really love to see how they worship the Lord in their Churches.  Regardless of religion, they respect the love the Lord.

The Binondo Church, also known as Minor Basilica of Saint Lorenzo Ruiz and Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary Parish was founded by Dominican priests in 1596.  Once a fine example of Spanish colonial architecture, the original Binondo church was built to accommodate the Christian baptized Chinese.  Especially noted for the six-storey octagonal bell tower, the church, now a minor basilica, is the shrine of the first canonized Filipino-Chinese martyr and saint San Lorenzo Ruiz, who during his childhood served the parish as an altar boy.

I found the chapel in the Church of Santa Cruz very interesting as the Savior was portrayed as a Lamb.

 

Santa Cruz was primarily intended for Parian Chinese converted to Christianity during the colonial period and was built in the early 17th century.  It is considered to be one of the oldest church built outside the walls of Intramuros.  Heavy bombing during WWII however, totally destroyed the original church and from its ruins rose the present church.

This was a sculpture of the Savior in Gethsemane that was
in the courtyard of Santa Cruz.

There are also many side street chapels located along walkways. These tiny chapels look more like altars than chapels and are always dappled with fresh flowers flanked by lighted candles and burning sandalwood incense. For a constantly busy community, they provide for a more practical venue to worship.

FAITHFUL SERVANTS OF THE LORD.... FROM INDIA

In the past few weeks, we had missionaries from India who had visited in our Family History Center at every opportunity they had when not at the MTC.

These Elders and Sisters came the first day looking to do their own family history so they could take their ancestors names to the Temple.  One of the temple ordinance workers called me specifically to assist a sister who was having difficulty getting her family tree sorted out.  A few days later, she came into the family history center and found me.  Together we got her family tree in order and printed off the names of her great grandparents.  She was elated.  It make my heart full.  She is the sister in the green dress next to me.  I believe I have an eternal friend, Sister Rayudu.
They have all returned asking us if we had any names they could take to the temple to perform baptisms, confirmations and initiatory.  We provided them with our available  names we had from our family trees.  The day before they left to head back to India for their mission, they came in looking for the lyrics of "We'll Bring the World His Truth".. (Army of Helaman).  I understand these Elders and Sisters had never heard this primary song and were so excited to learn it for the devotional that evening.  I have loved every part of this mission and having these opportunities to learn of the history and culture of this country, traditions of the Chinese in the Chinese Cemetery and how the citizens of this country worship the Lord, has been such a blessing in my life.