Today is the “Day of Valor” or “Araw ng Kagitingan” or “Bataan Day” or what the business world calls a “long weekend”. But out of a weekend is curiosity as to why we celebrate “Araw ng Kagitingan”. Common assumptions are claims that it commemorates an important occurrence during the Second World War or it observes a national decree when heroes are celebrated. Well, all of it is true, but specifically, “Araw ng Kagitingan” best remembers an important happening during the World War: the Bataan Death March.
The best we can do for this day is reminisce one of the pivotal moments in history, as Filipino and American forces had to face the fall from Japanese occupants and take a march of retreat from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. Common responses for this case is to have this event sink on how it is so relevant in our current times that we get to relate to it. I mean the typical misnomer that “ang nangyari noon nangyayari ngayon”, but that topic shall be for another article. Focus should be in honor to those whose lives were perished during the march. Well, it takes simple solemnity and we can go on with the day. Just remember the rises and falls that our countrymen faced in history.
Ang Katalistang Atubili 