Day 1 & 2: (Wednesday - Thursday, 09 - 10 January) Enroute
Depart Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on our flight to Manila. Lose one day crossing the International Dateline..
Day 3: (Friday, 11 January) Manila
Arrive in Manila and be met with meet and greet assistance from our Guide. Transfer with tour guide to the Manila Hotel via private air-conditioned vehicle.
On arrival at our hotel our local Tour Guide will provide a short brief of our itinerary highlighting the nurses' points of interest. We will be given a short history of the Manila Hotel and schedule a tour of the Mac Arthur Suites during our stay in the Grand Old Hotel. A must for World War II history buffs and a great way to begin our tour of the Philippines. We will enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel in the evening. Overnight at the Manila Hotel.
Meals: B (in flight) /_/D Hotel: Manila Hotel
Day 4: (Saturday, 12 January) Manila
After breakfast at the hotel we begin a whole day touring Historic Manila with lunch at a local buffet restaurant. We begin with a visit to the Rizal Park where the Philippines' national hero, Dr. Jose Rizal, was executed by Spain in December of 1896. A monument to the hero stands at the park where his remains are also buried. Our tour then proceeds to the walled city of Intramuros that was built by the Spanish colonizers during the 16th century. The first stop is at the historic Fort Santiago, which was a fortress built of the conquistador Miguel Lopez de Legazpi and became the seat of military power during the Spanish, American and Japanese colonial periods. The second stop is at the San Agustin Church that was completed in 1607 by the Augustinians. San Agustin has the distinction of being the oldest standing church in the Philippines. There is also a museum that exhibits artifacts from the bygone Spanish era. The tour then crosses the street to the Casa Manila, once a colonial villa during the Spanish period and is now a museum that serves to recreate a typical household during the era. There is also a stop at Bahay Tsinoy, a museum that is dedicated to highlighting the contributions and influence of the Chinese to Philippine culture.
After lunch we continue our tour with a visit to the University of Santo Tomas, which is the oldest university in Asia founded in the 17th century during the Spanish period. The university also served as a concentration camp for civilian POWs during World War II, and it is also WHERE NURSES SERVED DURING THAT TIME. There is also a visit to the museum that houses exhibits from the war. If advance permission can be obtained, we will visit the notorious Bilibid Prison that held military POWs during the war. The walk through the neighborhood surrounding the prison is interesting and a brief tour of the prison is rare, unique and enlightening and safe. Return to the hotel late in the afternoon. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the Manila Hotel.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Manila Hotel
Day 5: (Sunday, 13 January) Manila to Corregidor
Breakfast at the hotel. Early morning departure for the Sun Cruise Terminal to board our ferry for Corregidor. We arrive at Corregidor Island after a 90 minute ferry ride across Manila Bay. During the cruise we will be shown a video of the battle. There will ample photo opportunities during the transit.
On arrival we will begin our tour of Corregidor on a private tram. One of the most revered and hallowed battle sites of World War II, a tour of Corregidor transports guest back in time. The day begins with an early transfer to the jetty port where guests board a hydrofoil ferry for the 90-minute ride to The Rock, as Corregidor is also known. On arrival, the tour proceeds to visit the various batteries and guns used to defend the island. There is also a visit to the ruins of the Middleside Barracks where soldiers were billeted. Topside are the Pacific War Memorial and the Spanish Lighthouse among other attractions. Finally, the highlight of the tour is Malinta Tunnel where a light and sound show is staged to give guests the experience of being on Corregidor during the war. Buffet lunch is served at the Corregidor Inn. Since this will be an exclusive tour for the group, additional sights that may be of interest may be visited. Among the places to be visited is the monument to the nurses that served on The Rock before the fall to the Japanese. THERE ARE THREE SECTIONS (TOP, MIDDLE AND BOTTOM SIDES), PLUS A WELL MAINTAINED MUSEUM HOUSING U.S. ARMY AND U.S MARINE CORPS/4TH Marine Regiment artifacts.
Lunch at the Corregidor Inn with the afternoon free to explore on your own. Dinner at the Corregidor Inn. After dinner we will embark on a night tour of the Malinta Tunnel. For the more adventurous, an extended tour can be arranged to explore some of its extensions. Overnight at the Corregidor Inn.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Corregidor Inn
Day 6: (Monday, 14 January) Corregidor to Manila
Breakfast at the hotel. Continuation of tour in Corregidor via private tram. Lunch at the Corregidor Inn. Return to Manila in the afternoon and transfer to the Manila Hotel. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the Manila Hotel.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Manila Hotel
Day 7: (Tuesday, 15 January) Manila to Subic Bay Freeport
Breakfast at the Manila Hotel and early morning departure via motor coach for the Subic Bay Freeport (formally Subic Bay Naval Base). Arrive and check into the Subic International Hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. After lunch we will tour the Subic Freeport. Dinner on you own. Overnight at the Subic International Hotel.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Subic International Hotel
Day 8: (Wednesday, 16 January) Bataan Peninsula Tour
Breakfast at the hotel. The tour begins from Subic through the town of Olongapo. The first landmark is the Layac Junction where a heated battle was fought between the American and Filipino soldiers against the invading Japanese forces to delay the latter's advance into Bataan. Next up is a visit to Mt. Samat, site of the last stand of the joint American and Philippine forces before the Fall of Bataan
. ALSO WHERE NURSES SERVED. THE MONUMENT IS EXPANSIVE AND IS ON TOP OF A HILL WITH VAST PANORAMIC VISTAS. ACCESS TO THE TOP IS TAXING THROUGH VERY STEEP SETS OF STAIRS. MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE BUS/VAN TO SHUTTLE CLIENTS TO THE TOP VIA A NARROW WINDING ROAD TO THE UPPER DROP OFF POINT. On the mountain is the Shrine of Valor where various memorials were dedicated to those who fought in the Battle. From there, the tour visits the site where Gen. Edward King surrendered 78,000 American and Filipino soldiers to the Japanese after three days of vicious fighting in Bataan. Lunch is at a local restaurant
The tour then proceeds to Mariveles, where Kilometer 1 of the Death March starts. Various other places of interest will be visited on the way back to Subic. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the Subic International Hotel.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Subic International Hotel
Day 9: (Thursday, 17 January) Subic Freeport to Clark AFB
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed via motor coach to the "Old" Clark Air Force Base. The tour passes by the San Fernando Train Station where soldiers from the Death March were assembled before taken by train to the Cabanatuan concentration camp. Tour Clark AFB. Lunch at a local restaurant. Dinner included. Overnight at Clark Holiday Inn.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Clark Holiday Inn
Day 10: (Friday, 18 January) Clark AFB to Cabanatuan to Manila
Breakfast at the hotel. Proceed via motor coach to Cabanatuan where we tour the concentration camp for survivors of the Death March were located. Cabanatuan was also the site of the "Great Raid" story. After lunch we proceed to Manila in the late afternoon and check-in at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Lunch at a local restaurant Dinner included. Overnight at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Dusit Thani Hotel
Day 11: (Saturday, 19 January) Manila
Breakfast at the hotel. After breakfast we proceed to the American Memorial Cemetery for brief wreath-laying ceremonies. The morning is free to explore the Memorial
THIS IS ONE OF OUR LARGEST AMERICAN CEMETERIES WORLDWIDE, WELL MAINTAINED AND USUALLY HAS A AMERICAN STAFF CURATOR(S) AVAILABLE FOR HELP LOCATING MARKERS AND INFORMATION.
Lunch at a local restaurant. Afternoon is free for leisure or shopping. Dinner on your own. Overnight at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Meals: B/L/_ Hotel: Dusit Thani Hotel
Day 12: (Sunday, 20 January) Manila - Day At Leisure
Breakfast at the hotel. Day at leisure for spa treatments/shopping or other activities. We enjoy a Farewell Dinner at the hotel in the evening. Overnight at the Dusit Thani Hotel.
Meals: B/L/D Hotel: Dusit Thani Hotel
Day 13: (Monday, 21 January) Departure
Breakfast at the hotel. Check-out and proceed to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport for flight to LAX.
Meals: B/L/D (in flight)
