PHILIPPINES WW II HISTORY TOUR (7-day tour)

Target Date: November 2010

(Specifics to be announced later.)

 

Organized by:  Edna Binkowski

Author:  Code Name High Pockets

(True Story of Claire Phillips, an American Spy and the resistance movements during Philippines WWII.

 

 

Edna at the Hell Ship Memorial

 

 

ITINERARY

 

Day One:  Nov. 2, Tuesday

Arrive Manila International Airport

 

Hotel Car from Bayview Park Hotel,  will pick up guests according to their flight info.  Bayview Park Hotel is located along Roxas Blvd., right across the U.S. Embassy,  walking distance to Manila's famous park LUNETA, and close to Harrison Plaza Mall.  Its' the guests free time to just relax, stroll around, take the peddy cab or jeepney to the mall, or enjoy the  $5 massage from the "blind" masseuse in the mall.  Last year's tour participants greatly enjoyed this and they talked highly of it.

Day Two:  Nov. 3, Wednesday              

 

Manila to Bataan

 

Breakfast at 7:00am at a private dining area of the hotel.  Meet your tour historian and guide, Edna Binkowski, to brief you of the whole tour. After early breakfast, be ready for the 8:00 am tourist bus that will take us to Bataan. We will stop at University of Santo Tomas along Espana Street.  It is in this area where the American civilians and their allies were incarcerated  during the war.  On the way to Bataan, we will stop at the monument of the Battle of the Layac Junction.  In this monument, reflect on the bravery of Sgt. Jose Calugas who earned the highest US Congressional Medal of Honor.  We will proceed to Mt. Samat shrine and museum, a national landmark, built in honor of the allied defenders.  It is in this area where the most vicious battle took place.  We will lay a wreath in honor of the soldiers who perished in this battle.  We will visit the Battle of the Tuol Pockets, where the allied soldiers defeated their Japanese counterpart.  Check the Pantingan Massacre marker where 400 Filipino soldiers were massacred during the death march, in retaliation to their defeat at the Tuol Pockets.  Overnight at Villa Edna in Limay or at Crown Royale in Balanga City. 

 

EDNA TRIES TO PRESERVE BATAAN HISTORY BY REHABILITATING

THE ABANDONED MARKERS AND MEMORIALS.  SHE TRIES TO

GENERATE FUNDS THROUGH HISTORY TOURS.

Day Three:  Nov. 4, Thursday               

 

Bataan to Subic

 

Today, we will visit the life size statues of General King Surrender Party at Balanga Elementary School that became the central Japanese garrison in Bataan.  We will visit the memorial for the forgotten Filipino and American Nurses in Limay, the General King Marker in Lamao, and the General Wainwright surrender marker in Cabcaben.  We will proceed to Mariveles Zero Kilometer, start of death march.  Along the way, we would see the death march markers posted in every kilometer of Bataan. Lunch at Villa Edna.

 

On the way to Subic, we will view the magnificent Mt. Malasimbu that became the seat of the Bataan guerillas, where Claire Phillips used to hide during the battle. Overnight at Vista Marina Hotel and Resort in Subic.  Relax and enjoy the swimming pool or the beach.  Stroll along the seafront and listen to the band at Pier One, or try your luck at the casino.

 

Bronze Recreation of Surrender Party at Balanga School

 

Day Four:  Nov. 5, Friday            

 

Subic-Clark-Capas-Cabanatuan

 

Before we leave Subic, we will visit the Hellship Memorial along seafront.  This memorial was funded and built through the ADBC veterans and their NOKs. On the way to Cabanatuan, we will stop at Clark’s Stotsenburg and Clarkfield that were bombed on Dec. 8, 1941.  We will lay a wreath at the Battling Bastards of Bataan memorial at Camp O’Donnel, now called Capas National Shrine.  There is one box car to find in this sad place where thousands of POWs died of hunger, disease, and physical abuse. We proceed to La Parilla Hotel or at Acropolis Hotel in Cabanatuan City for overnight.

 

Death March Box Car

 

 

Day Five:  Nov. 6, Saturday         

 

Cabanatuan to Manila

 

This morning, we will lay a wreath at the Cabanatuan Memorial, former POW camp.  We will reflect on the miserable life of the captives, the role of the underground people who smuggled aid to the sickly POWs (part of the history that many skeptics doubt about) and the daring rescue operation staged by the Alamo Scouts, the 6th Ranger Battalion, and the Cabanatuan guerillas, an event that saved the lives of about 500 allied POWs.  We proceed to Manila.  It’s a long drive, we will watch the Chick Parsons documentary and the Claire Phillips movie “I WAS AN AMERICAN SPY” on board. Overnight at Bayview Hotel.

 

Day Six:  Nov. 7, Sunday              

 

Tues Manila City Tour

 

We will visit Luneta (Philippines National Park), Fort Santiago where the guerillas, spies and the underground workers were tortured and executed.  We will proceed to Intramuros, the Spanish town.  Find your Filipiniana souvenir at Silahis Center.  After we check the malls at Ayala Ave, we will proceed to the American Cemetery to lay a wreath. 

 

Back to the hotel.  In the evening, Edna will take you to Zamboanga Restaurant to enjoy a spectacular dinner show.  She is a musician, she will play the guitar and sing for you too.  To the fun loving people, try the bamboo dance and swing your hips to the Polynesian drum beats. This is hilarious and unforgettable.

 

Day Seven:  Nov. 8, Monday                 

 

Corregidor Tour

 

We should take an early breakfast, to be ready for the 6:30 am pick up to bring us to the ferry boat at Roxas Boulevard for the Corregidor Day tour.  It is a pleasant one and a half hour ferry ride.  We will tour the island by trolley, a replica of the island’s transportation during peace time.  Enjoy the Malinta Tunnel light and sound show which is a world class tour. Visit the battery sites and the huge cannons used during the war. Lunch will be served at Corregidor Inn.  We leave the island at 2:30pm (except those who wants to stay for overnight).  Back to the hotel.

 

Day Eight:  Nov. 9, Tuesday                  

 

Manila Airport

 

Extra night rooms will be booked upon request.

 

Please inform Edna if you want to stay longer, and if you want to see other places.  

 

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Interested parties please contact Edna Binkowski at hipockets.edna@yahoo.com

She tries to preserve the Bataan history by rehabilitating the abandoned markers.  She tries to generate fund through history tours.

 

Comments from Participants from Edna’s Last Tour in May, 2009.

 

“I want to thank you again for an amazing, educational and inspiring journey.  I learned more in the week and a half with you than I have in all my years of history classes.”

 

Norbert Caolli

 

“Our trip was all I could hope for.”

 

Richard King

 

“It was all that I expected and a bit more.  Edna is a super hostess!  I had a good time because of the Filipino people - because of the history and the culture… - and because of Edna and all she did for us.”

Patrick Adams

 

 

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Fred