Places to visit to commemorate Day of Valor
This Day of Valor, it’s time to go back to your roots.
Tomorrow, April 9, the Philippines will celebrate Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor to commemorate the heroism and patriotism of the Filipino and American warriors and veterans who defended Bataan, Corregidor and Bessang during the World War II. Minor parades are scheduled in key cities of the nation but the President’s speech to honor veterans in the Province of Bataan will be the highlight of the day.
As many regions of the country, including Bataan, are on Alert Level 1 and most part of the population is already inoculated against COVID-19, this non-working holiday gives everyone a chance to cross borders with friends or family and spend the Day of Valor at the right place and time.
For those who want to pay tribute to the war veterans and go on a little adventure, Mt. Samat National Shrine or “Dambana ng Kagitingan” in Bataan is a place to be. Here, war veterans gather and government officials hold a ceremony annually to celebrate the Day of Valor.
The shrine was built in 1970 at the peak of Mt. Samat with a marble-clad infrastructure and a massive memorial cross as the centerpieces. The complex also includes a war museum featuring collections of painting of the Philippine heroes and weaponry used by the Filipino, American and Japanese forces during the war. A wide stairway from the parking will lead to a flagpole with two bronze urns on both sides as a symbol of eternal flame.
Behind the colonnade is a 14-flight zigzag footpath going to the base of the giant cross that showcases murals of the Filipino figures and events in different colonial eras. For P10 per individual fee, an elevator brings visitors to the two wings of the cross that serve as a viewing gallery where cold breeze brings one to relaxation while gazing at a 360-degree view of Bataan Peninsula, rolling hills, Corregidor and Manila Bay.
Another experience to add on the Bataan Day of Valor trip is to get to the starting point of one of the darkest periods in Philippine History, the 1942 Bataan Death March. This is marked by the Zero Kilometer Death March Marker situated in Bagac, Bataan, in which tens of thousands of Filipino and American troops marched from Bataan to Tarlac, with a distance of about 106 kilometers. Tourists can also visit the Bataan World War II Museum in Balanga, Bataan to see artifacts and dioramas from the world-famous Death March.
After a full day of activities and site-seeing, tourists can take a most deserved break in Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar. Located in Bagac, Bataan, this place can take anyone back in time. Home to Jose Acuzar’s collection of heritage houses that have been salvaged from total ruin and neglect, these houses were then renovated and rebuilt by a team of artisans and craftsmen in the town. Las Casas features the finest of Filipino craftsmanship, artistry, and skill giving the property a look and feel that is distinctive and its own. Apart from its charming villages, it also gives an access to the beach complete with a bar, set of water activities, and the most wonderful view of the sunset in Bataan.
Meanwhile, those who want to connect themselves down to the roots in the Day of Valor but want to stay near Manila may opt to visit Corregidor Island and Las Casas Quezon City as an alternative to the Bataan trip.
Corregidor Island is a World War II relic accessible by a 90-minute boat from a ferry terminal in Pasay. It served as the headquarters for the allied United States army and Filipino fighters who fought against the Japanese. Japan may had seized most of the Philippines that time but they avoided Corregidor due to its treacherous gorges.
Here, alongside the silent cannons and rusting artillery are numerous memorials for the war heroes. Most of the war-ravaged buildings have not been restored and were left in their original state after the war in reverence to the Filipino and American soldiers who died there. Some of the places to visit in the island are the Pacific War Memorial, Malinta Tunnel, Japanese Garden of Peace, and Corregidor Lighthouse. While the tour is open to visitors aged 16 to 65, travelers under 16 or over 65 will have to sign a waiver.
Meanwhile, Las Casas Quezon City offers an events space, restaurant, and museum rolled into one destination. Located along Roosevelt Avenue, this is the perfect Al fresco dining space in a huge Spanish courtyard. The spot offers a tour and dining experience as the place alone is already a feast for the eyes and the Filipino menu will surely make one full.
With the easing up of COVID-19 restrictions, the 80th Araw ng Kagitingan invites everyone to remember and honor the gallantry and sacrifices of all the Filipino war veterans and connect these roots to the democracy and freedom every Filipinos enjoy today. -— Allyana A. Almonte
