Northern Guam

Camp Magsaysay Ruins

Following the devastation of World War II, the newly independent Republic of the Philippines in 1946 entered into contract labor agreements with the U.S. Navy to rebuild Guam. Thousands of Filipinos were brought to Guam between 1946 and 1952 to reconstruct the island from the ground up. Contract laborers were housed in dozens of labor camps scattered throughout the island. At its peak, Camp Magsaysay in Yigo held over 7,000 laborers who helped forge Andersen Air Force Base and various naval installations. Camps contained barracks, bakeries, post offices, and recreational facilities. Today, all that remains of
Camp Magsaysay are foundation ruins and roads, although these are mostly overtaken by vegetation. The most visible ruins of the camp can be seen directly across from the Ace Hardware store in Yigo.

How to get there: Take Route 1/Marine Corps Drive north to the village of Yigo. The ruins of Camp Magsaysay lie on the large stretch of military land directly across the Ace Hardware store in Yigo.

Time Factor: 22 minutes

Distance: 9.7 miles