Bataan lines up activities for 76th Araw ng Kagitingan

Ernie Esconde 

March 19, 2018 

BALANGA CITY, Bataan: The celebration of the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan in this province will kick off with a Freedom March to be participated by about 300 volunteers. 

Ian Alacer, event director, said bulk of participants comes from the Philippine Army with 160 volunteers, 50 from the Philippine Air Force, 20 from Vanguard ROTC, 50 from Quezon City Army Reserve and the rest from the Ist Bataan Army Reserve.

The two-day Freedom March will start on March 24 at the Death March Kilometer “O” marker in Mariveles, Bataan and ends in Capas, Tarlac or a distance of 160 kilometers. 

The Freedom Relay and Ride for Valor follow on March 25. These activities started five years ago and sponsored by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB). 

PVB vice-president Mike Villa-Real said proceeds of activities will be earmarked for maintenance and rehabilitation of 100 Death March Markers in Bataan, 31 in Pampanga and seven in Tarlac. 

The Filipino-American Memorial (FAME), with Richard Hudson as vice-president, maintains the markers. 

“The Freedom Trail hopes to instill in the minds of the youth the sacrifices of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II and the infamous Death March where thousands died,” said Villa-Real. 

The Death March started after Bataan fell on April 9, 1942 in two points -- Mariveles on April 10 and Bagac on April 11. The prisoners met in Pilar town and marched to San Fernando, Pampanga and to Capas. 

The observance of the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan was set from March 24 to April 9, which is celebrated by the locals as Bataan Day.

Vicky Garcia, mother of Gov. Albert Garcia, chair of the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation, said they have lined up various day-to-day activities until the culmination of the Araw ng Kagitingan rites on April 9 at the Shrine of Valor in Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan. 

President Rodrigo Duterte is expected to attend. 

Aside from the Freedom Trail, other activities include the Padyakan sa Bataan, Galing Bataan, trade fair, history quiz, parade of floats, foot parade, Parangal sa mga Beterano ng Bataan, drum and lyre competition, and concert of the Aeta Koro Bangkal Magbikin. 

“We want our youth not to forget the heroism of the Filipino soldiers who fought gallantly for our freedom,” said Vicky, wife of the late Gov. Enrique Garcia. 

Villa-Real said on record, there are only about 5,000 living World War II veterans in the country. 

(PNA)