The Philippine’s Day of Valor, also referred to locally as the Araw ng Kagitingan, is celebrated as a national holiday in the country. The event is held annually to commemorate one of the country’s most historical events, the fall of Bataan during the infamous World War II.

Originally, this specific national holiday is held every 9th of April. However in 2009, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo decided it would be more suitable to celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan on April 6. Moving the date will provide the Filipino citizens with two long weekends, as the usual date for the Araw ng Kagitingan falls on Maundy Thursday.

Moving the date and providing longer weekends would prove to be beneficial to the country’s local tourism. As what President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo claims, moving the dates of several holidays to lengthen the weekends are called economic holidays, which will in turn, bring in benefits to the country.

Anyway, getting back to the national holiday; as mentioned earlier, Araw ng Kagitingan is an annual observation meant to remind the citizens of the importance or the relevance of the Fall of Bataan to the county as a whole. The historical event all started at the dawn of April 9, 1942, when an alarming number of prisoners of war were surrendered to the Japanese troops. These unfortunate POWs consisted of more than 76, 000 people, 11,796 of which were composed of American soldiers, 1,000 Chinese men, and 67,000 Filipinos.

A large percentage of the POWs were forced to endure an enforced march that went as long as 90 miles or 140 km. These men were robbed of their belongings and then marched on dusty roads and were crammed into several rail cars before being sent to Camp O’Donnell. During the long and exhausting march, more than a thousand prisoners of war were abandoned on the streets to die from heat prostration, dehydration, wanton execution and untreated wounds.

In addition to starving them and forcing them to endure marching in the midst of the tropical heat, the Japanese troops also executed several common actions including beheading, or the random cutting of throats and casual shootings. Apart from this, some of the prisoners of war were also raped and stabbed with a bayonet while some endured disembowelment and rifle butt beating.

Refusing to move forward or the simple inability to continue was almost considered as a death sentence among the POWs. This was also true for any action that suggested protest of displeasure. Anyone who was caught helping or assisting someone who tripped due to weakness was attacked or punished.

The few POWs who were luckily transported on trucks towards San Fernando were not exempted from enduring an additional 25 miles of marching. Aside from robbing them of their things, these poor prisoners were also denied of food and water and were beaten at random. Out of the 76,000 POWs, only an approximate of 54,000 people was able to reach the destination.

This significant detail about Philippine history was later on dubbed as the Bataan Death March, or the Death March of Bataan. And much later on, it was accounted as a Japanese War Crime. This violation of the code of war occurred right after the three month Battle of Bataan, during the World War II. In the Japanese language, this event was referred to as the Bat?n Shi no K?shin, which actually means the same thing.

Several decades later, the fall of Bataan was declared locally as the Araw ng Kagitingan, or the Day of Valor or Heroism among the Filipinos in order to pay tribute to the brave soldiers who endured the Japanese treatment during the ruthless siege of Bataan. This event will remind all Filipinos in the coming generations about the heroism and martyrdom that eventually led to the country’s own freedom.

Surprisingly, this historic event is also commemorated in some parts of the United States. This significant Filipino event is observed as “The Sacrifices of the Fall of Bataan and Corregidor” at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl, Honolulu, Hawaii. Aside from Hawaii, the Bataan Death March is also celebrated each year in several other places. For instance, the Bataan Death March is known as the “Bataan Memorial March” in Brainerd, Minnesota. Aside from this, it is also celebrated every year at the White Sands Missile Range in the north of Las Cruces, New Mexico. And finally, the event is commemorated as the “Maywood Bataan Day” in Maywood, Illinois. The event was first observed in the place way back in September 1942.

While a few US states are known to commemorate the event, several areas in the United States have also named shrines, schools, memorial parks, highways, bridges and monuments to honor the memory of the Filipino, Chinese and American defenders who suffered a great deal in Bataan.

Last 2009, on the 30th of May, the survivors of the Bataan Death March gathered to celebrate their 64th and final reunion in San Antonio, Texas. On behalf of the entire Japanese government, the Japanese ambassador to the United States, Ichiro Fujisaki, made an appearance to the assembly. During the event, the Japanese Ambassador apologized to the group of Bataan survivors for the things they endured after they were surrendered to the Japanese troops.

Locally, the Filipinos have placed a lot of importance and put much effort into celebrating the event. Several memorials and shrines have been built all over the country to honor the countless heroes who endured the March of Bataan. Shrines and memorials built as a tribute to the POWs of Bataan can be found in Mount Samat, and Capas, Tarlac. The one found in Mount Samat, Bataan is known as the Shrine of Valor or the “Dambana ng Kagitingan.”

The event in itself is a celebration of gallantry, heroism and valor. The event is celebrated to perpetuate the lessons that were obtained from the Fall of Bataan. Specifically, the fact that nations do not need to enter into war to settle international differences. Aside from this, the historical event also reiterates that “peace is many times more beneficial to humanity.”

For this year, 2010, the observance of the Araw ng Kagitingan will be held simultaneously with the Philippine Veterans Week. Several activities have been made in preparation for the event. This included a symposium on the “Images of Valor and Victory of WWII,” which was held at the NDCP Auditorium last March 5 (Friday).

The symposium was part of the event’s pre-launching activities aimed at spreading awareness regarding the event. The symposium was held in collaboration with the Philippine Historical Association. The symposium featured several stories that emphasized on the valor and victory of the soldiers in the Bataan March despite going through the things they had to endure. In addition to this, a handful of notable veterans have also served as panelists who interacted with the young audiences through an open forum.

Another activity connected to the event’s awareness campaign, the ID Medical Outreach Program for the Veterans and Descendants, was held last March 26 (Friday) in Balanga City, Bataan. An entire day was dedicated to conduct medical and dental missions for the veterans of Bataan in coordination with the VFP-SDAL, FILVETS, and VFP.

A sunrise ceremony is scheduled on April 5, 2010 at 6:00 in the morning at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. The ceremony will symbolize the Opening of the Philippine Veterans Week. The sunrise ceremony will provide the veterans the opportunity to pay tribute to their fallen comrades by allowing them to offer flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers.

A wreath-laying ceremony is scheduled an hour after the sunrise ceremony. This ceremony will also take place at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. This time, it will be the different sectors of the government and the youth’s chance to pay homage to the veterans of Bataan by offering wreaths and flowers. The youth will be represented by a group of students, as well as by selected boy and girl scouts.

Apart from the youth and the different government sectors, the Armed Forces of the Philippines is also expected to pay homage to the Bataan heroes at the Hunters ROTC Guerilla Field at the Philippine Army. This will be held on the same day, April 5 at 9 am.

On the 7th of April (Wednesday), a Tribute to All Filipino Heroes will take place at the Corregidor Island at 9am. This specific ceremony will be held as a tribute to all the heroes hailing from the time of Lapu-lapu, to the time of the Katipuneros who fought during the Philippine Revolution. The term Filipino Heroes also applies to the people who participated during the EDSA Revolution, as well as to the guerillas and soldiers who fought during the Second World War. This memorial in Cavite will be held to honor the “Filipino who knows how to die for the love of freedom and liberty.”

There are a lot more activities planned for the celebration of the annual Araw ng Kagitingan event aside from these. Each event is highly dedicated to honoring every Filipino who have fallen in battle, as well as to every Filipino who have survived after a series of battles.

-by Mara Tismo-
(Photo taken from risk711.blogspot.com)