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Day of Valor remembers the Fall of Bataan
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Posted on Apr 09 2012
By Clarissa David
Reporter
Reporter
Filipinos all over the world today mark the 69th commemoration of Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor, a day that Philippine Ambassador to the U.S. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. described as “one of the darkest moments of our nation’s history.”
Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor is the national holiday that honors the 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers under the U.S. Armed Forces in the Far East that surrendered to the Japanese Imperial Army during World War II.
Cuisia, in his message to the Filipino community throughout the U.S., said the combined Filipino and U.S. forces surrendered to the Japanese “to prevent the inevitable massive loss of lives” following three months of “bloody and relentless” combat in the Bataan Peninsula.
After their surrender, the soldiers were unaware “that they would be consigning themselves to a cruel and brutal captor,” enduring a 70-mile forced march, known as the Bataan Death March that saw thousands of these prisoners of war collapsing to death due to starvation or illness.
“Today we commemorate the Day of Valor-not to remember defeat, but to celebrate and perpetuate the valor of the defenders and their strong resolve to keep on fighting for their country and people despite the overwhelming adversity,” said Cuisia.
Day of Valor, Cuisia said, also pays tribute to the sacrifices of Filipino veterans of World War II as they demonstrated their “unwavering commitment to defending the ideals of freedom and democracy, at whatever price.”
“As Filipinos, we are fortunate to inherit a land that is free. We should value this freedom and pledge our commitment everyday that the sacrifices our forefathers made will always be remembered and honored,” said Cuisia.
Consul General Medardo Macaraig, for his part, said, “Ating sariwain ang kabayanihan ng mga Pilipino na nagbuwis ng buhay at nagsakripisyo para sa diwa ng demokrasya at kasarinlan pitumpung taon na ang nakalipas sa makasaysayang bayan ng Bataan at Corregidor.”
Despite the holiday, the Philippine Consulate General on Saipan will be open today from 9am to 4pm. It will resume its regular working hours of 8am to 6pm tomorrow, April 10.
