“Araw ng Kagitingan” is known here in the Philippines as a nationwide holiday celebrated annually on the 9th of April. But this very day also marks the beginning of the Bataan Death March in which 75,000 brave American and Filipino soldiers were forced to march a distance of 101km from Capas, Tarlac to San Fernando, Pampanga. This major event of WWII took the lives of thousands of American and Filipino soldiers.

            On this very day, many brave American and Filipino soldiers suffered under the Japanese Army. The Japanese Army forced 75,000 U.S. and Filipino prisoners of war captured by the Japanese to march from Capas, Tarlac to San Fernando, Pampanga. In this Death March, thousands of starving and ill-treated prisoners were forced to march to a prison camp. Only 54,000 prisoners survived and reached the camp; and up to 10,000 died on the way and others escaped in the jungle. Many of these brave men were abused by the Japanese army, but this didn’t stop these brave men to keep going. Although many died, many lived on to tell the story. But may this day not be forgotten, for even if many of these people are gone, their heroic sacrifice is the reason you're enjoying freedom to this very day.

        The 9th of April should be a day for every Filipino to remember. Because this very day marks the bravery of the thousands of American and Filipino soldiers who were forced to march by the Japanese Army. May this day be a day for Filipinos to remember and honor the sacrifice that these brave men did to protect the freedom of our nation, because without them, you will not be enjoying the freedom you have now.

References:
Andal, R. (2019, April 9). Araw ng Kagitingan ginunita sa Sulu. Philstar.com; Pilipino Star Ngayon. https://www.philstar.com/pilipino-star-ngayon/bansa/2019/04/10/1908660/araw-ng-kagitingan-ginunita-sa-sulu