The Day of Valor

 

                    The Bataan Death March began on April 10, 1942 with the fall of Corregidor Island and the Bataan Peninsula to the Japanese. The Japanese assembled all the American and Filipino soldiers, a total of about 76,000 soldiers, and marched them approximately 65 miles north of the Bataan Peninsula to Camp O’Donnell. The now infamous march to Camp O’Donnell became known as the Bataan Death March. It was labeled as such due to the Japanese harsh mistreatment of the prisoners; forcing them to march non-stop with no food, water, or rest and indiscriminately killing the prisoners. By the end of the war approximately 4,000 Americans survived. (Bataan-Corregidor Memorial · Hidden in Plain Sight: A Selection of Central Florida Monuments · RICHES (ucf.edu))

 

                  Under Republic Act 3022, the Day of Valour was officially a Filipino holiday. Passed by Congress in 1961, the law says part of the observance for Bataan Day is a moment of silence among citizens and public offices at 4:30pm. Araw ng Kagitingan is a regular holiday in the Philippines and occurs on or around April 9. Many streets are closed and public transport routes may be redirected to give way for parades. Malls and other areas remain open and most people may go to these places and use this day as a family day.

 

                  Araw ng Kagitingan, also known as the Day of Valor is important because it marks the greatness of Filipino fighters during World War II. It is marked on or around April 9 in the Philippines each year. As Filipinos, let’s honor our heroes. Let’s remember this important day which brought peace and victory to our country.

Photo Credentials: https://slsu.edu.ph/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/arawngkagitingan.png