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UNCERTAINTY
Published at
www.halfproject.com
June,
2001
They say that in an island
located southwest of Bataan, one could actually feel the presence of death
within the whole island.
I’ve always wondered if it were true. I guess I was about to find out.
I have never been to Corregidor. I didn’t really know what i would see or
experience or feel on that island. all i knew was that ruins are what that
island is made of. I had no idea as to what awaited me.
We left for the island at around eight-thirty on a sunny summer morning in a
Philippine navy boat docked in manila bay. By mid-morning, our boat docked on
the shore of Corregidor island. From there, we rode on a jeepney that would tour
us around the island.
I thought i was prepared. i don’t know if it is possible to be.
Corregidor is a place unlike anything i have ever been to. Nature must have a
wonderful time in that place. Except for the ruins, the island was carpeted with
plants and so many butterflies were frolicking around. Never have i been to a
place where both life and death hover above it. There was such a peaceful feel
to the place, like nothing could ever disturb or break it. I do not think,
however that the soldiers back in the 1940s would share my sentiments.
Our first stop was at this one tunnel where the Americans had to use a metal
track on the ceiling in order to transport a cannon shell. Just outside this
tunnel was some sort of a phone which the soldiers used in order to communicate
with the other areas within the island. Apparently, when the Japanese troops
attacked this place, an American soldier pulled the telephone off the wire in
order to prevent the enemy from contacting the other American troops. A Japanese
soldier shot him and he died on the spot.
I stood in front of the telephone and let my index finger touch the bullet holes
in it. I closed my eyes and a picture of an American soldier falling to the
ground after he pulled this very telephone’s cord came to mind. the thought that
so many soldiers lost their lives in order to protect the lives of their
comrades was depressing and yet there was so much to be admired. to die with
honor – ironic, isn’t it? How one receives honor after one has died.
While the others went to the side of the tunnel and took a look at the huge
cannon beside it, I walked toward the tunnel and went inside. I walked to the
center of the tunnel and I suddenly felt the presence of death all around. the
air was heavy, like there was some particular presence in there with me. For
some reason, I could not bring myself to proceed to the end of the tunnel, so I
just stood there, right in the middle and closed my eyes. a picture of soldiers
hurriedly moving about came into view. They knew that the Japanese troops had
found this hideout of theirs, so they better act fast! Though the thick, huge,
steel door was locked tight, it was too late. The American soldiers were
outnumbered and the bullets of the Japanese’s weapons were starting to go
through the door. It was too late – many of the American soldiers met their
death and the remaining were forced to surrender.
My eyes fluttered open. imagine how at one point in time, so many men met their
death in this place, this entire island, in fact, and now, it’s a tourist spot.
people come here to look at the ruins, thank god that they did not suffer the
same fate these heroes had, eat their packed food, and maybe swim a little in
the sea before heading home. I wondered how the spirits of those who died in
here felt about it. Before I could find out about that, I walked back out into
the sunlight.
We visited the theatre after that. Apparently, before the Japanese came, the
Americans had already made themselves right at home and built themselves a
theatre for means of – what else? – entertainment. I walked up onstage and posed
with my sisters for a picture. as the camera flashed, an image of actors and
actresses up here on stage came to my mind. I wondered what it was like acting
on stage at that time. i have always loved performing, having people watch me up
on stage and enjoy my craft. I suddenly missed the stage. it has been a while
since i last performed. Those soldiers who died here probably wished that it was
all just make-believe, that the whole war was simply a scripted play. sad to
say, it wasn’t.
As I looked out into the area where the audience sat, it suddenly occurred to me
how uncertain life could be. it could sometimes give us complete 360-degree
turns and just slap into our faces occurrences that we never imagined would
happen.
We visited more ruins and more cannons after that, but none had failed to leave
a mark on me as the theatre and that particular tunnel had. Though I can’t
remember the tunnel’s name, i could very well remember the emotion that i felt
as i walked inside that tunnel.
Life walks beside us, but death walks behind life, and we never know when it
would just decide to snatch up life, throw it on the side and walk with us.
© valerie
v. mayuga
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