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Post by micahwcollins on Jun 3, 2020 10:37:18 GMT 8
I think the Coast Guard could be worked around as long as you were safe. They wouldn't dictate whether you can use your own boat or not. I would agree with Fots2 though, unless that boat had a trailer that could be taken home, it would be up in flames when that Coop found out.
(Some years ago, Capt. Danny Howell (Ret'd), who was the only American residing on Corregidor for some several years, had his own boat based at Cabcaben. My recollection is that his fuel was, mysteriously, watered down. -xo-)
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Post by T2 on Jun 9, 2020 11:33:35 GMT 8
WOW I am stunned but shouldn’t be they did it to me once too often. Manuel Quezon would be appalled at the way this has gone. We all know his final days and hours were on Corregidor before he boarded the submarine never to see Corregidor or Country ever again February 20, 1942, I believe. This whole thing needs to be put right for President Quezon and everyone else connected. In my opinion the whole experience got too complicated with high end accommodations and a few other incorrect so called improvements. KISS was The moto in WW11 and it worked for that very reason... Simplicity! I said in the past the old Corregidor Inn had a lot of old charm, she was well suited for her environment and she was a little cranky which I absolutely loved. The Corregidor Inn just needed a few cans of paint and a brand new fuel-efficient generator. Let the island shine for what it really is, an historic battlefield. Make your improvements in specific areas which pinpoint historical events, highlight them, all of them. As a history buff, I want to stand in the very location and read all about what just happened there, I do not want to just look at a broken down building and try and figure out what it was and what its purpose was. A great example would be a small write up and picture at the location of the building where Al and Spencer were when they went in a building to get a photograph taken and how they sent that to his mother in the USA. By doing this you have just brought to Life a real time incident in front of your very eyes And the magic of what that is, there is only trees in front of you, the building is gone but you now have a real life story in your mind. This particular event also acknowledges the innocents prior to the start of World War II.The entire island is one big historical event actually so therefore each and every area should be sign posted with a small write up of what happened in that exact location. Somehow the guided tours need to be altered, I do not know how, but I do know that I would like to spend more than 90 seconds in one area before being whisked back on the trolley to the next location. Make the departure from Corregidor much later than it is or add a short visit for an appetizer and a long visit for the enthusiasts. The appetizer will become The main course if done correctly and many people would opt for the longer journey. I also know that there needs to be a back up transportation plan from Manila so that the vessel makes the journey no matter what. My heart is sending me signals to visit again, I hope it is sorted very soon. Willy in Bermuda 🇧🇲
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Post by Karl Welteke on Jun 11, 2020 4:34:55 GMT 8
PHILIPPINE INQUIRER REPORTSPicture and text from the URL below: U629. Sun Cruises ferry boat to Corregidor from: Screen-Shot-2020-06-09-at-8.59.25-PM from Philippine Inquirer. Sun Cruises Inc. bids goodbye as pandemic devastates PH tourism industry By: Gabriel Pabico Lalu - Reporter / @gabriellaluinqinquirer.net / 09:04 PM June 09, 2020 newsinfo.inquirer.net/1288873/corregidor-tour-provider-closes-down-as-covid-19-affects-tourismSun Cruises From Sun Cruises Facebook MANILA, Philippines – A company which provides cruise and tour services to Corregidor Island has officially closed down as the distancing and stay-at-home protocols due to the COVID-19 pandemic have affected tourism-related industries. A post on Sun Cruises Inc.’s Facebook page on Tuesday showed a digital copy of the closure notice — which was set last May 16 — ending a more than three-decades service to people who wanted to visit the historic area. “It is with deepest regret that we announce the closure of Sun Cruises Inc. (SCI), effective May 16, 2020. We wish to convey our warmest thanks for all the support and patronage you have shared with us all these years,” Sun Cruises said. “We will forever treasure the fond memories of each tour and each voyage you and your families entrusted with us for so many years,” they added. Sun Cruises meanwhile assured customers who have already made advanced bookings and those who have already paid in advance, whether fully or partially, that they are working a way to refund the payments. “Allow us more time to process the release of funds as we are currently working with a limited workforce. For your refund queries, you may reach us through +63.2.8465.8840, +63.998.968.3256, or e-mail reservations@suncruises.com.ph.,” they said. Corregidor, an island at the entrance of Manila Bay, holds historical significance to the country as it was considered as one of the areas where Filipino soldiers held a gallant stand against Japanese invasion during the Second World War. Several material remnants of the war, including canyons, tunnels, abandoned hospitals, and tunnels and bunkers can be seen at the island. It has been a known tourist spot for both local and foreigners, including students going on historical field trips. As the COVID-19 pandemic forced class and work suspensions, along with travel and gathering restrictions, several establishments took a hit including those involved in tourism. Travel agencies led by the Philippine Travel Agencies Association (PTAA) also asked the national government for assistance as early as April, when enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) over Luzon was underway and was due for an extension. WATCH: COVID-19 takes its toll on tourism industry as PH braces for the ‘new normal’ For more news about the novel coronavirus click here. What you need to know about Coronavirus. For more information on COVID-19, call the DOH Hotline: (02) 86517800 local 1149/1150. The Inquirer Foundation supports our healthcare frontliners and is still accepting cash donations to be deposited at Banco de Oro (BDO) current account #007960018860 or donate through PayMaya using this link . ________ Thanks Karl for pasting the Inquirer Article - Everyone has a different take on the loss of Sun Cruises, and what its aftermath might be. I do note that it took until 9 June for the Inquirer to break the news, and our Forum broke the news 26 May. I was told that we had the news on the site before Sun Cruises had even informed many of its employees. Paul
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Post by EXO on Jun 11, 2020 10:50:11 GMT 8
T2, I don't think the present generation of the elite give a square root for history. The Philippines, for example, has bigger fish to fear. The CCP is well aware of the structural weaknesses in the Philippines, and they have played upon them, and bought their way into the ascendancy there. The Philippines, of course, is not alone in this, for the CCP has played upon every country's weaknesses, it's just that the Philippines has never had a system of checks and balances against corruption at the top, against cronyism, and straight out corruption. (Many might say the same about Washington, Whitehall and Canberra.) I have long believed that an interest in history is a middle-class affectation, because only the middle class have the time to read, and the money to buy the books, etc. (I may have been wrong about it being just an issue of not having the disposable income to buy books. Over the years, I have seen people get deeper into history through making plastic models, through collecting militaria, and reenacting.) I'm not all that keen on signs everywhere, and I recall Al McGrew making one of his classic comments about fearing that Corregidor might sink for the weight of the memorials being built on it. He wrote me early in the piece, "I (just) visited Corregidor. Unfortunately there were no explosives to blow up several Memorials. I'm surprised they have no memorials to the Turks." That was 20 years ago! I did have an idea, though. Imagine there was an app for your phone where, when you visited an area, it could superimpose text and/or images over what you are seeing on the screen. I've been trying to get CFI to renew and reinvent the island in the manner of a National Park, where the major part of the attraction is the Island environment/ecology, and the history aspect is but one of the environment's aspects. I sure don't want it as a CCP funded Resort. They said that maybe it was time to reconsider a "no cats, no dogs, and cull the monkey population" idea. They could have been blowing smoke up I disagree, it's happened before. I very much agree with your comment that "the whole experience got too complicated with high end accommodations and a few other incorrect so called improvements." I think the Inn had a charm bypass, and the patient died.
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Post by cbuehler on Jun 13, 2020 7:23:53 GMT 8
What is happening here? Is all of this to mean that Corregidor is no longer accessible? Please put this in direct terms. If this is so, I don't believe it can last....can it?
CB
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Post by EXO on Jun 13, 2020 18:50:10 GMT 8
For the moment, much remains unknown. My crystal ball is on the blink. The Wuhan Virus close-down in Manila is still enforced, and the tourist industry is in deep freeze. The Corregidor Foundation Website is carrying the announcement that the island is temporarily closed, until further notice. We believe the only way to get there would be by banca privately hired, but as the island is closed, I doubt you will be allowed to make landfall, and if you do, I doubt you will be allowed to stay. The CFI have a large banca, but I imagine it has been laid up for the duration of the closure. Accommodation on Corregidor, same thing - CFI have a few rooms, but closed means closed. We have no idea how many people remain on the island because the Sun Cruises closure means the withdrawal of their workforce. There would be a security force remaining, to prevent pilferage, no doubt. In sum, forget going there, don't even bother trying. Make your enquiries of CFI directly. The CFI website is at corregidorisland.com.ph/
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Post by T2 on Jun 15, 2020 16:55:50 GMT 8
EXCELLENT idea on creating an app for each position, filled with detail...I can see it on my iPad now, a brilliant idea!
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Post by olivier on Jun 23, 2020 7:58:09 GMT 8
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Post by xray on Jun 24, 2020 11:52:50 GMT 8
Wow some bad news, alot going on here as well and I never thought about how the chinese infection was affecting the Rock. Hope the situation improves as things gradually return towards normal, obviously an unprecedented situation for everyone around the globe and completely out of our hands.
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Post by EXO on Jul 5, 2020 9:04:19 GMT 8
WHO OWNS CORREGIDOR? I think this is sufficiently important to make it clear. THE SHORT ANSWERThe real ownership of Corregidor is not the Department of Tourism (DOT). The ultimate ownership of Corregidor is the Department of National Defense (DND). The DND has conferred governorship on the DOT for tourism purposes only. The DOT has, in turn, delegated control to the Corregidor Foundation Inc.(CFI). The CFI is a corporation, whether with or without an original charter, and under the audit jurisdiction of the Commission on Audit so long as the government owns or has controlling interest in it. THE LONG-WINDED LEGAL ANSWERExecutive Order No. 58, series of 1954, made certain battlefield areas in Corregidor open to the public and accessible as tourist attractions. Executive Order No. 123, series of 1968, further amended Executive Order No. 58, thereby authorizing the Ministry of National Defense to enter into contracts for the conversion of areas within the Corregidor as tourist spots. Pursuant to Executive Order No. 123, the Ministry of National Defense and the Philippine Tourism Authority executed a Memorandum of Agreement dated July 10, 1986 for the development of Corregidor and its neighboring islands into major tourist attractions. Specifically, the Ministry of National Defense, with prior approval of the President, leased the entire island of Corregidor to the Philippine Tourism Authority for one peso (P1.00). As for the Philippine Tourism Authority, it undertook to maintain and preserve the war relics on the island and to fully develop Corregidor's potential as an international and local tourist destination. The Philippine Tourism Authority was thus authorized to "package and source the necessary funds to develop and restore the Corregidor Island group." On February 6, 1987, the Philippine Tourism Authority Board of Directors adopted Resolution No. B-7-87, approving the creation of a foundation for the development of Corregidor. On October 28, 1987, the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. was incorporated under Securities and Exchange Commission Registration No. 145674. On August 3, 1993, the Philippine Tourism Authority executed a Memorandum of Agreement with Corregidor Foundation, Inc. to centralize the island's planning and development. The Philippine Tourism Authority agreed to release to the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. its operating funds based on a budget for its approval. For its part, the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. agreed to submit a quarterly report on the receipts and disbursements of Philippine Tourism Authority funds. It additionally agreed to deposit all collections of revenues in a distinct and separate account in the name of the island of Corregidor, with the disposition of the funds at the sole discretion of the Philippine Tourism Authority. Another Memorandum of Agreement was subsequently entered into by the Philippine Tourism Authority and the Corregidor Foundation, Inc. on September 3, 1996. The subsequent Agreement reiterated the provisions of the August 3, 1993 Agreement but added some stipulations. In particular, the second paragraph of item 4 was included, providing that the disbursements of the Philippine Tourism Authority's funds by Corregidor Foundation, Inc. shall be subject to the audit of the Internal Auditor of the Philippine Tourism Authority and the Commission on Audit. All told, Corregidor Foundation, Inc. is a government-owned or controlled corporation. It is subject to the Commission on Audit which has the power, authority, and duty to examine, audit, and settle all accounts pertaining to the revenue and receipts of, and expenditures or uses of funds and property, owned or held in trust by, or pertaining to, the Government, or any of its subdivisions, agencies, or instrumentalities, including government-owned or controlled corporations with original charters. WHERE IS THE CORREGIDOR HISTORIC SOCIETY IN ALL OF THIS?Essentially nowhere. We don't exist. We are an unchartered unincorporated agglomeration of persons interested in Corregidor. We are aware that for years, Corregidor Island seemed to be perceived solely as a popular historical site, with its idyllic features unknown to many. We support all efforts to usher in a new era for this Eco-Historical location, making it known as a place of sanctuary where one can enjoy a relaxing opportunity to revel in the past. As an Eco-Historical destination, we encourage all initiatives aimed at developing Corregidor's ecological credentials. We support a push towards making Corregidor a National Park. To the extent that CFI supports making Corregidor a Eco-Historical location, we support them. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) has announced that it is eyeing to develop the 546-hectare island of Corregidor into a Flagship Tourism Enterprise Zone (FTEZ) due to its historical value and potentials for tourism. This can't come quick enough for us. At present, there are five FTEZs across the country, as well as other TEZs. Among the FTEZ are the 883.11-hectare Long Beach area of San Vicente, Palawan; the Rizal Park Complex in Manila; Mt. Samat Shrine in Bataan; Panglao Bay Premiere in Bohol; and Bucas Grande in Surigao del Norte. The Ciudad de Victoria in Bulacan, Queen's Castle Golf and Resort in Cebu, Bravo Golf in Negros Occidental, Hijo Resources in Davao del Norte, Kingdom Global City in Davao, Aton Land & Leisure Zone in Negros Occidental, and Amorita Resort in Bohol are also classified as Tourism Enterprise Zones designated areas. TEZ-designated areas are granted fiscal and non-fiscal incentives such as six-year income tax holiday, 5 percent gross income taxation, and tax- and duty-free importation of goods and services. The Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA) is now offering tax incentives to tourism enterprises undertaking renovation, as well as lowering of permit fees for as low as P1 as part of its efforts to help the tourism industry recover.
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