So we celebrated Leah’s birthday in an interesting way (she said is was ok). All she’d mentioned is that she wanted to go to an island for her birthday… so we did. It just happened to be a little slice of American history, that’s all.
Corregidor Island. The American (and Filipino) military had their last stand here in defense of the Philippines. This is where the Japanese defeated the troops and took over the Phillipines (for about a year during WWII). But this is also where the US forces finally regained control, and eventually turned the islands over to Filipino rule (and total freedom).
The day started early with an 8:15am boat ride over to the island in Manila Bay. We hopped on a bus to receive our guided tour. We ate our included lunch on the island, and finished the tour with a light and sound show in the Malinta tunnel.
We had already planned on having Leah’s birthday meal at the Burdick’s house (we totally invited ourselves over, the last act of shamelessness in the Philippines by our team). Kim provided a Mexican fiesta, and a wonderful graham cracker mango cake (YUMM).
What a great day for a birthday. The news was that there was to be a typhoon on the way… but the skies stayed clear for our journey. A special island birthday.
