The Fall of Bataan: The Brave Filipinos’ Sacrifice


    The “Araw ng Kagitingan”, also known as “Day of Valor” is a national holiday in the Philippines which commemorates the fall of Bataan, where many brave Filipino sacrificed their lives, during World War II. It falls on April 9, although in 2009, it was moved to April 6 to avoid it from falling to Maundy Thursday.

On this historic day during World War II, thousands of Filipinos fought the country bravely even if it means that they are sacrificing their lives. It started after Japan bombed the U.S. Naval Base at Pearl Harbor. When the Japanese successfully claimed Manila, the Americans and Filipino’s had no choice but to retreat to Bataan. 
The US-Filipino army fought the Japanese even with a lack of naval and air support for the next three months. However, on April 9, 1942, the U.S. General Edward King Jr. Surrendered. This caused approximately 64,000 Filipinos and 12,000 Americans to become prisoners of the Japanese forces. 

This day is a reminder of the hardships and other sacrifices the Filipinos went through to reclaim our country’s freedom. Since then, up to now in the present, it was celebrated every April 9 of the year.
 

    Future generations will also learn this in school, but I hope that they won't do what I did when I was young. I didn't see before the importance of learning my country’s history. But now that I was at this age, I have seen its importance and how it is a must to remember the mighty Filipinos who fought back then because, without them, the Philippines will not be the country that I grew up in.

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