Corregidor Island is one of the country's most important historical landmarks. Located just 48 kilometers from Manila, it was a key strategic defense location during the Spanish colonial rule up to World War II. Its strategic location was used to defend the entry point to Manila Bay and the city of Manila itself, which served as the Philippines' most oimportant seaport and seat of government during the colonial rule of Spain, the United States, and Japan. It is comprised of several islands: Corregidor (Fort Mills), which is the largest of the islands, El Fraile (Fort Drum), Caballo Island (Fort Hughes), and Carabao Island (Fort Frank). The island also housed a small military airfield. The ruins now serve as a memorial dedicated to the soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield, especially during World War II when the island was heavily attacked during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from Japanese colonial rule.
