“Araw Ng Kagitingan” is also referred as “Bataan Day or Bataan and Corregidor Day”. The English term for this Philippine holiday is called, “Day of Valor”.
This holiday is actually a historical event for commemorating all of the fallen Filipino and Allied Forces back in the previous World War II. The exact day is marked on the 9th of April. Although, political leaders can move the event in advance or delay it. This is to give way to a more important affair that may fall on the same exact date.
So how is Araw Ng Kagitingan celebrated in the Philippines?
Just like most regular holidays in the Philippines, the Day of Valor is considered as a “non-working holiday”.
Before the date of celebration arrives, organizers will have to plan ahead because many of the busy streets will be closed down. They will eventually be re-routed because of the “street parade” that will be held.
Despite the declaration of this event as a non-working holiday, not all establishment will close down. Business establishments particularly the malls and other leisure sectors will remain open to serve their services.
Of course, it won’t be a fun vacation of they are closed. Since this is a National Philippine holiday, family actually take advantage of it to spend time being together by going on leisure places to enjoy themselves.
As I already mentioned above, there will be some small parades by the World War II veterans on different parts or regions around the Philippines. And since there is no work for almost everyone, people get to enjoy their vacation either at the comfort of their own home or visiting places where they can relax.
But, what is really the most important part of the event is when the current President of the Philippines will deliver his or her speech at the “Mount Samat Shrine”. This is a province of Bataan.
The President’s speech is to commemorate all military forces the Filipino people including their allied companions, particularly the American troops. The speech is to remind everyone all about the sacrifices and heroism that they gave to attain freedom for their next generation to come.
It’s indeed a huge thanks to them, without them putting their lives on the line, Philippines may be different from what it is now today. Thus, All Filipinos should never forget what they had done for their people and country.
World War II in the Philippines were between the Filipino and American Soldiers against the Japanese Imperial Army (JIA) who invaded the country.
On the dawn of April 9, 1942, the JIA won the battle where the leading Military Officer “Major General Edward P. King” of the United States Army was forced to surrender all forces under his command. According to the historical record, there were more than 76,000 soldiers which include those that were seriously injured.
It has been estimated that there were 67,000 Filipinos who had the highest number and then followed by the Americans with a number of 11,796. There were also Filipino-Chinese with the least number of 1000 soldiers.
All these soldiers became prisoners of the WW2 by the JIA and they got severely punished. They were forced to march a distance of 140 Kilometers which started from “Bataan Death March” to “Camp O’Donnell” in Capas, Tarlac.
Many of the prisoners would had survived if they were not harshly treated by the JIA. They were actually not given water to drink as they march under the extreme heat of the sun. This resulted to thousands of the prisoners who died due to dehydration.
Those that were already injured where they had untreated wounds mostly died along the way because they couldn’t carry themselves up. The JIA even committed “wanton execution” especially to those who can’t keep up with the group or had attempted to escape.
Survivors of this Bataan Death March claimed that the sides of the roads were littered with so many dead bodies. Some of them were still alive moaning for help but still, they were destined to die.
There were only few lucky prisoners who took a ride on a truck but until San Fernando, Pampanga where they were forced to drop and join the rest. Thus, they had marched 40 Kilometers to their final destination.
When everyone managed to reach Camp O’Donnell, an estimated number of 54,000 prisoners made it out from 76,000. This means that there were about 22,000 who died and got their remains tossed on the side of the road.
Despite the defeat and captured soldiers in Bataan, all their efforts didn’t actually went to waste. Their stand against the JIA did play an important strategic plan that lead to the defeat of the JIA.
Without them who put a lot of pressure against the JIA, all of the US bases situated in the Pacific would had been seized by the Japanese army as well. But they didn’t, because the battle that took place in Bataan was fought so hard between the two sides. This allowed the Allies to buy more time and prepared their engagement towards the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway.
On February 8, 1945, the combined forces of the Filipino Liberation Army and Allied Forces finally reclaimed the Bataan Peninsula.
Conclusion
Now that you know the historic event behind the Araw Ng Kagitingan, each time that this day come once in a year, you may want to think about those heroes who gave their lives. Just give a short silent moment of your time and pray for them.
Thus, this isn’t just an event where you enjoy and have some fun. It is a special day to remember the heroism and valiant men who fought for the independence of your own country.
You may also want to share to everyone whom you know what exactly the Day of Valor is. Share it especially to the younger generation since most of them are not really aware about what’s behind this Philippine holiday event.
This holiday is actually a historical event for commemorating all of the fallen Filipino and Allied Forces back in the previous World War II. The exact day is marked on the 9th of April. Although, political leaders can move the event in advance or delay it. This is to give way to a more important affair that may fall on the same exact date.
So how is Araw Ng Kagitingan celebrated in the Philippines?
Just like most regular holidays in the Philippines, the Day of Valor is considered as a “non-working holiday”.
Before the date of celebration arrives, organizers will have to plan ahead because many of the busy streets will be closed down. They will eventually be re-routed because of the “street parade” that will be held.
Despite the declaration of this event as a non-working holiday, not all establishment will close down. Business establishments particularly the malls and other leisure sectors will remain open to serve their services.
Of course, it won’t be a fun vacation of they are closed. Since this is a National Philippine holiday, family actually take advantage of it to spend time being together by going on leisure places to enjoy themselves.
How Filipinos Celebrate the Araw ng Kagitingan?
As I already mentioned above, there will be some small parades by the World War II veterans on different parts or regions around the Philippines. And since there is no work for almost everyone, people get to enjoy their vacation either at the comfort of their own home or visiting places where they can relax.
But, what is really the most important part of the event is when the current President of the Philippines will deliver his or her speech at the “Mount Samat Shrine”. This is a province of Bataan.
The President’s speech is to commemorate all military forces the Filipino people including their allied companions, particularly the American troops. The speech is to remind everyone all about the sacrifices and heroism that they gave to attain freedom for their next generation to come.
It’s indeed a huge thanks to them, without them putting their lives on the line, Philippines may be different from what it is now today. Thus, All Filipinos should never forget what they had done for their people and country.
Reason Why Valor Day Needs to Be Celebrated
World War II in the Philippines were between the Filipino and American Soldiers against the Japanese Imperial Army (JIA) who invaded the country.
On the dawn of April 9, 1942, the JIA won the battle where the leading Military Officer “Major General Edward P. King” of the United States Army was forced to surrender all forces under his command. According to the historical record, there were more than 76,000 soldiers which include those that were seriously injured.
It has been estimated that there were 67,000 Filipinos who had the highest number and then followed by the Americans with a number of 11,796. There were also Filipino-Chinese with the least number of 1000 soldiers.
All these soldiers became prisoners of the WW2 by the JIA and they got severely punished. They were forced to march a distance of 140 Kilometers which started from “Bataan Death March” to “Camp O’Donnell” in Capas, Tarlac.
Many of the prisoners would had survived if they were not harshly treated by the JIA. They were actually not given water to drink as they march under the extreme heat of the sun. This resulted to thousands of the prisoners who died due to dehydration.
Those that were already injured where they had untreated wounds mostly died along the way because they couldn’t carry themselves up. The JIA even committed “wanton execution” especially to those who can’t keep up with the group or had attempted to escape.
Survivors of this Bataan Death March claimed that the sides of the roads were littered with so many dead bodies. Some of them were still alive moaning for help but still, they were destined to die.
There were only few lucky prisoners who took a ride on a truck but until San Fernando, Pampanga where they were forced to drop and join the rest. Thus, they had marched 40 Kilometers to their final destination.
When everyone managed to reach Camp O’Donnell, an estimated number of 54,000 prisoners made it out from 76,000. This means that there were about 22,000 who died and got their remains tossed on the side of the road.
Despite the defeat and captured soldiers in Bataan, all their efforts didn’t actually went to waste. Their stand against the JIA did play an important strategic plan that lead to the defeat of the JIA.
Without them who put a lot of pressure against the JIA, all of the US bases situated in the Pacific would had been seized by the Japanese army as well. But they didn’t, because the battle that took place in Bataan was fought so hard between the two sides. This allowed the Allies to buy more time and prepared their engagement towards the Battle of the Coral Sea and the Battle of Midway.
On February 8, 1945, the combined forces of the Filipino Liberation Army and Allied Forces finally reclaimed the Bataan Peninsula.
Conclusion
Now that you know the historic event behind the Araw Ng Kagitingan, each time that this day come once in a year, you may want to think about those heroes who gave their lives. Just give a short silent moment of your time and pray for them.
Thus, this isn’t just an event where you enjoy and have some fun. It is a special day to remember the heroism and valiant men who fought for the independence of your own country.
You may also want to share to everyone whom you know what exactly the Day of Valor is. Share it especially to the younger generation since most of them are not really aware about what’s behind this Philippine holiday event.
