Araw ng Kagitingan: The Fight for Independence
April 9, This historic day marks the greatness of Filipino veterans and American allies who fought against the Japanese invasion in World War II. Thousands of lives were lost during this dark chapter in our history in defending the country’s freedom and sovereignty.
Major General Edward P. King, of the United States Army, was forced to surrender more than 76,000 Filipinos, Chinese and American soldiers to the Japanese at dawn on April 9, 1942. The soldiers were forced to take a 90-mile (about 145 kilometers) hike to Camp O’Donnell in San Fernando. Thousands of prisoners died during the hike (also known as the Bataan Death March) due to starvation, dehydration and diseases before they could reach the camp.
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?
We celebrate this day to commemorate the lives of our Filipino forces who fought for our country,
and to let others be aware of what the soldiers did and fight for, which is the freedom of our country, The Philippines.
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