Araw ng Kagitingan

The Bravery and Sovereignty

The Battle of Bataan was fought by the United States and the Philippine Commonwealth against Japan. This battle represented the most intense phase of the Japanese invasion of the Philippines. The siege of Bataan was the first major land battle for the Americans in World War II and one of the most-devastating military defeats in American history. The force on Bataan, numbering some 76,000 Filipino and American troops, is the largest army under American command ever to surrender. On April 9, 1942, following four months of intense battle and no hopes of reinforcements, the American troops on the Bataan Peninsula of the Philippines surrendered to the Japanese.

After the war, Filipinos commemorates the Historical Battle of Bataan as an “Araw ng Kagitingan” as a national Memorial Day for the brave souls who fought during the Fall of Bataan on April 9, 1942, during World War II. Araw ng Kagitingan is never a celebration, but a commemoration of the greatness and bravely of Filipino and American fighters during the war who sacrificed and stood on our ground. The Day of Valor is a public holiday and is celebrated every year around the 9^th of April. There are small parades in different localities in the Philippines but the Araw ng Kagitingan’s main highlight occurs when the country’s president gives a speech at the Mt Samat shrine, in the Bataan province, to commemorate the heroism of the Filipinos and American troops who fought against the Japanese invasion during the World War II. This day also marks the infamous Death March. Approximately 76,000 Filipino, American, and Chinese soldiers were forced by the Japanese to march 90 miles from Bataan to Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. The hike was truly grueling to the point that thousands perished due to starvation, dehydration, fatigue, and abuse from their captors.

Commemorating the “Araw ng Kagitingan” is indeed a heartwarming ceremony and memorialization to the nation’s fallen heroes since thousands of lives were lost during this dark chapter in our history in defending the country’s freedom and sovereignty. Their sacrifices and grandeur will not be forgotten, even as new generations arise, since our country will always carry the history of how every army endured the sufferings and affliction in order to fight for the country’s freedom. 

             References:

GovPh. A Show of Valor – Celebrating Araw ng Kagitingan. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://dict.gov.ph/a-show-of-valor-celebrating-araw-ng-kagitingan/

Time and Date. The Day of Valor in Philippines. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/araw-ng-kagitingan

Atomic Heritage Foundation. Bataan Death March. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://www.atomicheritage.org/history/bataan-death-march

Wikipedia. Battle of Bataan. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Bataan

Britannica. Bataan Death March. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://www.britannica.com/event/Bataan-Death-March

Philippine Primer. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://primer.com.ph/tips-guides/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2017/04/1-Bataan-Main.jpg

Cleveland. Retrieved March 17, 2022. https://www.cleveland.com/resizer/QkmyRcFm-3V8w-yxhnwyHxoAXsU=/1280x0/smart/advancelocal-adapter-image-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/image.cleveland.com/home/cleve-media/width2048/img/plain_dealer_metro/photo/22432066-standard.jpg

Rappler. Araw ng Kagitingan. Retrieved March 17, 2022. http://assets.rappler.com/612F469A6EA84F6BAE882D2B94A4B421/img/902ED4116C594AC3BD9C1BC92445113E/bataan-death-march-20140408.jpg