Commemoration of Fall of Bataan

The commemoration of the heroes of Fall of Bataan popularly known as the “Araw ng Kagitingan" is celebrated yearly on April 9.

By this event, the Filipino people commemorates the historic bravery of thousands of soldiers and civilians who risked their lives to resist against the onslaught of the Japanese Imperial Forces into the Bataan Peninsula that was the stronghold of the American and Filipino soldiers in the Pacific during that time.

According to a living veteran soldier, the attack had its lull between February 12 and April 2, 1942, because both parties were badly hurt and the Japanese could never have the capability to penetrate the peninsula.  Weeks later, the Japanese made a retribution starting with its fresh aerial attacks that trembled both Filipino and American soldiers every after bombardment.  By that time, American and Filipinos had a hard time to reinforce because they knew that they could be easily cornered if they would have gone into lowlands because the premises were already occupied by the imperial forces.So they kept the forces at bay at all cost.

The inability of forces to defend the fortress in Bataan considering the urgency to bring military contingents to the West—specifically in Germany—disabled the entire Filipino-American Forces thereat.

So, on April 9, 1942, after weeks of resistance and struggle, Bataan fell under the hands of the Japanese Imperial Forces headed by Masaharu Homma. Right away, General Jonathan Wainwright—who was left in charge of the whole American Forces after Douglas McArthur left for Australia—was forced to surrender together with thousands of Filipinos and American soldiers in the field. Other reluctant Filipinos had found their shelter in an undisclosed and remote locations to prevent from being caught and imprisoned. Later, by means of an ultimatum, filipino soldiers were forced to surrender by the Japanese Imperial Army.

And the key moment started, they were forced to walk for 90 kilometers from Mariveles, Bataan to Pampanga. Therefrom, they were dragged into a train carriage like sardines. By this time, some soldiers died immediately due to suffocation inside the cart-carriage train which ferried them going to Capas, Tarlac.

Upon reaching Capas, Tarlac, they were once again forced to walk atrociously for another 13 kilometers going to concentration camp. At this point, they were deprived to eat and drink.  Some soldiers died forthwith during the laborious death march.  Others were brutally hurt and bayoneted right away if they would unable to walk straightforwardly or were lagging out due to starvation.

This is the lesson from the past and should not be forgotten by this generation. The heroes of Bataan should always remain in our hearts and mind. The liberty and freedom we have right now are the products of their blood, sweat and tears.