Why Do We Celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan in the Philippines?

The Philippines has a long history of struggle for national independence. During World War II when it was still a colony of the United States, thousands of Filipino and American forces died at the hands of the Imperial Japanese Army. To pay tribute to the valor of American soldiers and Filipino war veterans, "Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)" was made into a regular holiday every 9th of April every year.

The Fall of Bataan and the Bataan Death March were two of the bloodiest events in Philippine history, which prompted lawmakers to create a national observance and official holiday that will serve as an avenue for Filipinos to commemorate the sacrifice and valor of our military forces during World War II.

If you are much interested to know more about why we celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan and the bloody history that comes along with it, this article can serve as your comprehensive guide as we pay tribute to our fallen soldiers and heroes this 2023, 81 years since the Fall of Bataan.

Bataan Death March: A Timeline of Events

Alongside Berlin in Germany and Warsaw in Poland, one of the most devastated cities during World War II was the City of Manila, killing approximately a million civilians. But before the bloody battle of Manila in 1945, the Death March of Bataan first took place and shattered the entire nation, which transpired on April 9, 1942, hence the date of the annual commemoration.

Below is a quick timeline of events that led to the brutal and forced trek of captured soldiers from Mariveles to Camp O'Donnell and San Fernando.

• December 8, 1941: A few hours after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Japanese troops invaded the Philippines and bombed Clark and Iba Air Bases.

• December 10, 1941: Japanese bombers destroyed naval facilities in the Sangley Point of Cavite. It also marks the point when Japanese troops set foot on Northern Luzon.

• December 13, 1941: Japanese soldiers gained air superiority and bombed airfields in the Philippines.

• December 22, 1941: Japan's 14th Army arrived at the Lingayen Gulf in Pangasinan under General Masaharu Homma's command.

• December 24, 1941: The United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) retreated to Corregidor Island. The high command ordered War Plan Orange 3, which was a defense plan and a delaying tactic to prevent destruction until enough support from the US comes.

• December 26, 1941: Manila was proclaimed an Open City by General Douglas MacArthur, which means it is demilitarized and won't fight back against Japanese forces upon their occupation of the city. This is a tactic to prevent further destruction in Manila.

• January 1942: Japanese troops occupied Manila.

• February 1942: Japanese forces defeated Singapore, which was then a British colony.

• March 1942: President Roosevelt ordered General Macarthur to escape to Australia and take care of its Allied Forces. The General then spoke his famous line, "I shall return."

• April 3 to 8, 1942: The Imperial Japanese Army launched powerful attacks on US troops at Mount Samat in the Bataan Peninsula.

• April 9, 1942: Disobeying General Macarthur's orders, Major General Edward King, Jr. surrendered the troops of Bataan, leading to the captivity of more than 70,000 soldiers, mostly Filipinos.

• April 9 to end of April 1942: Infamously known as the Bataan Death March, thousands of American and Filipino soldiers marched to their death to reach another base in San Fernando, Pampanga. Captured soldiers and civilians died of starvation and disease, while those unable to continue marching were brutally murdered, even beheaded by the Japanese troops. Thousands also died while inside the prison camp at Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.

Sources: Bataan Legacy Historical Society and the Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines

Why Do We Celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan in the Philippines?

In 1961, the Philippine Congress passed Republic Act No. 3022 as Bataan Day. In 1987, it was renamed "Araw ng Kagitingan (Bataan and Corregidor Day)" under Executive Order 203. Fast forward to President Benigno Aquino III's administration, April 9 every year was simply called Araw ng Kagitingan.

So, why do we celebrate a Day of Valor when the country lost to the opposing forces and where thousands of Filipinos brutally died at the hands of the Japanese enemies?

Filipinos fought hard and sacrificed their lives for the country's independence. The Bataan Death March is the height of sacrifice, heroism, and bravery in the face of adversity.

How to Celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan

There are different ways that we can manifest our vast appreciation for our soldiers who fought and died during the Bataan Death March. One of these is to pay a visit to exactly where they fought and perished defending our freedom from foreign forces. The province of Bataan is ripe with remnants of our history, especially for the annual commemoration of the Bataan troops in World War II. As such, you can visit these historical places in Bataan during the Day of Valor this April 9:

• Mount Samal Shrine or Valor Shrine

• Zero Kilometer Bataan Death March Marker

• Bataan World War II Museum

• Corregidor Island

Commemoration doesn't just mean creating a regular holiday for our fallen heroes and having a paid day off and increasing the basic wage of hardworking employees from their exhausting day job or graveyard shift.

To truly pay tribute to our valiant soldiers, we must keep remembering our bloody past, acknowledge the valor of those who fought for us, and vow to defend our democratic freedom against those who will encroach upon our constitutional rights. This is how we can not only remember the valor of our heroes but also emulate it.

This upcoming Day of Valor, we remember not only the brave soldiers of Bataan and Corregidor, but also the revolutionaries who fought against our Spanish colonizers, the resistance in Manila against British invaders, martial law freedom fighters in the 70s and 80s, and our modern-day heroes who brave the daily stresses of life just to survive and make ends meet.

Lumina Homes, an affordable house and lot for sale provider for more than 10 years, joins the nation in our collective commemoration of our fallen heroes and their acts of valor. Their bravery and courage shall be eternally remembered and serve as a reminder to also defend and love our country in our own ways.

Aside from having a tour of Bataan's historical places, you can also include a site visit to Lumina Homes communities in Pilar and Balanga City if you are searching for an affordable house and lot near tourist spots and historical sites. There is certainly a Lumina house and lot in Bataan that are perfect for your lifestyle needs, on top of being near historical spots and access to essential establishments, institutions, and other perks.

Make your investment inquiries with us today and get your own house and lot in the Philippines this upcoming day of Valor.