Tyron C.

Taylo Professor Jennifer Monje

BS Accountancy 2-1 Philippine Literature
Page 1 of 6

The dark tourism of the Philippines
This writer chooses the topic of dark tourism for this report and endeavors to
analyze what the coined words means. Dark tourism is defined as tourism involving
travel to place that has the vestiges of dark pages in history.
For this purpose, this essay is limited to Philippine dark times. Dark tourism are
words that can be considered ages apart. Dark connotes some horrible experiences by
people in the past such as tragedy, sufferings, and death. This was the time that no one
dares to remember. It was a nightmare for those who live during those times.
What a no-mans land before is now a tourist destination. The place is Bataan
and Corregidor. Decades ago, a place of grim and fear where the combined forces of
United States of America and the Philippines suffered so much in hands of the
Japanese. Military after a fierce battle defended in Bataan and Corregidor. The fall of
Bataan and Corregidor followed a seeming endless hell for Filipinos and Americans and
also for civilians.
Bataan was remembered for the death march where hundreds of thousands of
Filipinos and American prisoners of war were made to march and beaten to death under
a scorching sun.
The same took place in Corregidor. Presently, when everything is mere footprints
of the dark past Bataan and Corregidor are both top choice in tourist destination. One is
tempted to think what is in man that he is tempted and lured to go to places which were
marked by human suffering. Are these places worth seeing despite its negative event.
Only the surrealist would like to visit a place like hell before.

Tyron C. Taylo Professor Jennifer Monje
BS Accountancy 2-1 Philippine Literature
Page 2 of 6

The next question is what type of tourist would tour those places. Was there
beauty in tragedy and tyranny? The answer to these queries would lead us to what
types of tourists do Corregidor and Bataan have. Definitely, these tourist destinations
are preferred by those who love history professor and students. The younger
generations go there out of historical curiosity. The latter did not experience the
sufferingsin the Japanese era and therefore has no qualms of visiting these places.
What is there to see but rusting cannons and inscriptions on the wall about the
tyranny of the Japanese? Going to these places is more to inform rather than a place to
unwind. It is certainly unpleasurable reading what happened during those times.
This type of tourism is dramatically opposed to the standard type of tourism that
all of us know. Dark tourism is more akin to interest in archeology only specific group
caters to a particular activity. Boras enthusiast will not go for Corregidor and Bataan
while those who prefer these places and other historical sites such as Fort Santiago go
for retrospection tourists who go for relaxation and leisure would go to tourist spots.
Dark tourism therefor is looking back of the ghost of the past, while tourism in its
real sense is about beauty of the places.
If ever, the present travel bus would like to go to Corregidor it is for its historical
and cultural heritage. The place was developed by the Americans from Spain into a
military camp will all the amenities. It had P X stores and sports field for baseball and
golf. It also had cinema and a hospital. Before the Japanese come, gold bars and silver
coins were kept in the island. The gold bars were airlifted to another place. These
glorious days in Corregidor were obliterated by the Japanese bombardment turning the
Tyron C. Taylo Professor Jennifer Monje
BS Accountancy 2-1 Philippine Literature
Page 3 of 6

structures into ruins. The place became the grave for thousands of Filipino and
American soldiers.
Today, time has somehow healed the wounds of war. The ruins of war like the
Malinta Tunnel. The tunnel is said to be a dark ghastly place where tourist spot in
Corregidor is the Pacific War Memorial a structure constructed to remember the
gallantry of Filipino soldiers.
Corregidor got its name to mean Corregidor in Spanish which means to correct. It
was a place where those passing were being checked. It was also called the Rock
similar to Alcatraz when it was used as penitentiary.
To go to Corregidor, tourist would take to ferry boat at the Harbor Vow near the
Cultural Center of the Philippines where the Manila Yacht Club is located. This island
has three sections, namely the top side which is where the previous headquarters,
barracks, parade grounds are found. There are also found aviary and ruins. At the
bottom side is the building administration.
The Corregidor tour on board the Tranvia is led by a tour guide who speaks
Tagalog, English, and Japanese. There is also audio visual presentation on the events
of World War II.
Corregidor at present offers the tourists its historical heritage combined with
scenic features of the islands get-away amenities. It is therefore safe to say that history
is an ingredient of tourism.
The principle of historical tourism holds true not only in the Philippines but also in
other countries as a filling tribute to the bravery and heroism of their people.
Tyron C. Taylo Professor Jennifer Monje
BS Accountancy 2-1 Philippine Literature
Page 4 of 6

Bataan is another tourist spot which has the same historical background as
Corregidor. Bataan was also the place where the Filipinos and Americans made a
strong stand against the Japanese forces in World War II.
History books tell us that Bataan is remembered for the infamous death march
where combined troops of Filipinos and American soldiers who were prisoners of war
undergo the march to hell in the hands of the Japanese.
Decades from then, the tragedies now belongs to the past but it left its ugly mien
in the dark pages of history and forgotten in Alzheimers mind of the veterans who still
live today. These could still be the trauma for our veterans of war. Their spirits are
however uplifted by their gallantry should they pay visit to this place.
Bataan is now a tourist hub. It is a place rich not only in history but also in
natural beauty and adventure, says one author.
Bataan is a must see tourist destination. Its present beauty erases the horrors of
war in the past. Among the amenities that welcome the tourists are:
1. The Pawikan Conservation Center which is a home for a type of sea turtle
known as Olive Ridley. This is being maintained by the BantayPawikan Incorporated. It
is indeed a refreshing site of nature watching these pawikan idly going through their
existence moving about and laying their eggs.
2. One can have a relaxing day at a resort which features the magnificent view of
the mountains while promenading lazily at the long stretch of beaches. One can enjoy
likewise the food that they offer at El Paradiso.
3. The Last Casas Filipinas is a place in Bagac Bataan where setting foot turns
back the hands of time to 18
th
Century Philippine architecture in the reconstructed
Tyron C. Taylo Professor Jennifer Monje
BS Accountancy 2-1 Philippine Literature
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mansions. There is also the Paseo de Escolta and the DambanangKagitingan which
symbolizes the death march.
From these two places with dark past, it can be deduced that there is tourism
value in historical sites. These places first and foremost have human interest
notlimitedto books but to real places of events.
People from all walks of life regardless of races, creed, profession and religion
have sense of history of particular places. It is human nature to relive the past but also
the same time wished that they were not there when it occurred.
The atrocities attached to these places in the past not withstanding, the demand
for such kind of tourism increased. It serves the economic purpose.
These are those who espoused the theory that dark tourism mirrors the resiliency
of people to rise from the ruins and devastation of oppressive eras.
Wittingly or unwittingly, these type of tourist spots appeal to the emotions of the
tourists. Whatever amenities they present are nothing but value added trimmings and
attractions that feed the need for natures beauty and the relaxing ambience that it gives.








Tyron C. Taylo Professor Jennifer Monje
BS Accountancy 2-1 Philippine Literature
Page 6 of 6


References:

Imbong, Peter. What history books didnt say about Corregidor. Rappler.com. 2013.
03/10/2014
Pagayatan, Ched Sarthou. Corregidor: Homage to Heroes. Officiallyphilippines.com.
n.d. 02/16/2014
Buaron, Dave Ryan A. Corregidor Island. Tourism-philippines.com. 2009. 02/23/2014
Five Best Places to Visit in Bataan. Skyscanner.com. 2010. 03/02/2014
Dot Ramos Balasbas-Gancayco. Things to see in Bataan and places to visit.
Philsatr.com. 2009. 03/07/2014