Arrivals / Transfer to Bataan

After morning arrivals into Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL), transfer to the province of Bataan. The Bataan Peninsula overlooks the northern entrance to Manila Bay with the island of Corregidor just to the south. For the Americans in Bataan in 1941, the peninsula was designated the site for a major defensive stand in the case of a Japanese invasion. Under War Plan ORANGE-3, which was the product of almost a half-century of planning for conflict with Japan, American forces would concentrate fighting in central Luzon and deny the use of Manila Bay to the Japanese Navy. After arrival to Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar, enjoy an evening reception and dinner getting to know your fellow travelers.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (R, D)

Bataan Death March

The morning tour begins at the Bataan Death March Kilometer Zero in the town of Bagac. One of two markers for the start of the “Bataan Death March,” this point marks the start of the march moving west toward Balanga. The group will symbolically walk a one-kilometer stretch of the March, arriving at marker two. Turning south, the group will visit the Kilometer Marker Zero at Mariveles, the starting point at the southern tip of the peninsula. After circling Mount Mariveles, arrive at the Mt. Samat Shrine, which honors the Filipinos and Americans who fell defending the country and serves as a gathering point for commemorations such as the Day of Valor held each April 9. The final stop is the Balanga Elementary School where General Edward King was interrogated underneath the mango trees following the surrender of more than 70,000 men.

Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (B, L)

Corregidor

From Mariveles, board a ferry for the fortress island of Corregidor. Serving as the door to Manila Bay, Corregidor was called “The Rock” due to its landscape and immense fortifications. In March 1942, General MacArthur fled Corregidor under orders from President Roosevelt, leaving General Jonathan Wainwright in command. Following the surrender on Bataan, Wainwright and his men held out for another month, facing relentless Japanese bombings. On your tour, visit numerous
fortifications and the Malinta Tunnel.
Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar (B, L, D)

Clark Field

The tour departs Bataan and continues to Pampanga Province and the Bamban Museum of History. The museum is a passion project of Rhonie Cauguiran Dela Cruz, who has collected numerous artifacts and items related to World War II in the Philippines. The museum is located next to several caves used by the Japanese during the fighting, with the nearby mountains acting as a refuge of the indigenous Aeta people who waged a guerilla war against the Japanese. Continue to the Capas National Shrine, which marks the location of Camp O’Donnell, the endpoint of the Bataan Death March. The Clark Field Museum continues the story of American involvement in the Philippines to withdrawal of American forces in 1942.

Clark Marriott Hotel (B, L, D)

Cabanatuan

Visit the site of one of the most successful commando raids in US history. Cabanatuan POW Camp held up to 8,000 American prisoners. In January 1945, a group of just over 100 US Army Rangers and 250 Filipino Scouts traveled over 30 miles behind enemy lines to reach the camp. The Scouts conducted a diversionary raid, while the Rangers attacked the main camp. Over 500 Americans were freed at the cost of 2 killed and 25 wounded. Upon returning to the Clark Field area, visit the San Fernando Train station, the location from which the prisoners from Bataan boarded rail cars for Camp O’Donnell.

Clark Marriott Hotel (B, L)

Battle of Manila

The Battle of Manila was the most savage urban combat fought by the American forces in the Pacific. The Japanese defenses turned every intersection into a struggle, and every building was a potential strongpoint. As the Americans closed in on the city from the north and south, the Japanese unleashed a fanatical wave of violence against the civilian population. The former “Pearl of the Orient” became a pile of rubble. In the span of one month, the city’s character changed forever. The touring today focuses on the historic center of the city. Through a tour of the Intramuros neighborhood, visit Fort Santiago and the famous walls that appear in many of the battle photographs.

The Manila Hotel (B, D)

Santo Tomas

When Douglas MacArthur fled to Australia, he proclaimed, “I Shall Return.” On October 20, 1944, MacArthur waded ashore on the island of Leyte. By January 1945, he was ready to liberate Manila. On February 3, American forces entered the city and liberated the internees at the University of Santo Tomas, including the nurses known as the “Angels of Bataan.” The liberation of the camp was of the highest priority. Conditions within the camp had deteriorated drastically in the latter months of 1944, and MacArthur feared that the Japanese would execute the prisoners. On a tour of the campus, the university’s archivist will discuss the history of the camp and its rebirth after the war.

The Manila Hotel (B)

Manila American Cemetery

While Intramuros retained its historic character, the balance of Manila was rebuilt with modern skyscrapers, office buildings, and shopping malls. The tour will conclude with a visit to the Manila American Cemetery, the largest cemetery overseen by the American Battle Monuments Commission. It serves as the final resting place of 17,058 Americans who lost their lives in the Philippines and throughout the Pacific. A farewell dinner at The Manila Hotel allows the group to discuss the highlights of the tour and pay tribute to the rebirth of the city.
The Manila Hotel (B, D)

Departures

After breakfast, transfer to Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) for your journey home or to your next destination.

(B)