Bataan: History Hub of Central Luzon

What about Bataan?

Historical Background:

World War II was one of the most unforgettable events happened in the world- and Philippines played a big role regarding the event. I was April 9, 1942, when the Fall of Bataan happened. Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) marks the annual commemoration of the event and respecting the bravery of Filipino and American soldiers during the campaign against invading Japanese forces during World War II. 

Facts:

The Bataan surrender is the largest in Philippine and American history. Roughly 60,000 Filipino troops and around 11,000 to 15,000 US troops surrendered to the Japanese. Since the Philippine Commonwealth Armed Forces is part of the US military, this marks the largest surrender of US troops since the American Civil War in the 1860s.

Bataan Day is also celebrated in Maywood, Illinois, USA. It is the hometown of the members of the 192nd Tank Battalion, a US Army unit that participated in the Battle of Bataan. The town, however, does not celebrate Bataan Day on April 9, as their ceremonies and parades are usually held every second Sunday of September.

Former president Ferdinand Marcos ordered the Mt Samat Shrine to be built. The Mt Samat Memorial Shrine was ordered constructed in 1966 by then president Marcos in Pilar, Bataan. The shrine stands on the site where some of the fiercest battles of the Bataan campaign were fought. Construction of the shrine was completed in 1970. The shrine also houses a museum that commemorates the Battle of Bataan and the Death March.

PH posts Guinness record for ‘largest dance fitness class’ in Bataan.A total of 16,218 participants joined the fitness dance class surpassing Mexico’s record set on Mar. 25, 2012 with 6,630 participants which was held on March 2016 at Balanga, Bataan.

PH posts Guinness record for 'most number of trees planted in an hour" in Bataan.  Based on Guinness records, the most number of trees planted simultaneously in  a single location is was achieved by Talwandi Sabo Power Ltd (India), in Mansa, Punjab, India on October 30, 2015 where 208,751 seedlings were planted. A total of 5,928 participants took part in this record-breaking activity. Bataan surpassed this record on June 2016 held at Orion, Bataan.

 

About the Province:

Languages Spoken:

• Tagalog
• Pampango/ Kapampangan
• Ilocano
• English

Famous Foods:

• Tinapa or fish preserved through the process of smoking
• Galunggong
• Cassava Leche Flan Cake
• Coco Jam
• Beakris House of Goodies - Polvoron
• Araro (bread)

Must-See Places:

• Bataan National Park 
• Ambon-Ambon Falls
• Limutan Falls
• Dunsulan Falls
• Pasukulan Falls
• Mt. Natib
• Morong Coast
• First Abucay Catholic Church
• Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar 
• Mount Samat - Shrine of Valor 
• Zero Kilometre Death March Marker  
• Bataan First Line of Defense

Highlight of Bataan: Mt. Samat

Mount Samat National Shrine or Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valour) is a historical shrine located near the summit of Mount Samat in the town of Pilár, Province of Bataan, in the Republic of the Philippines. The memorial shrine complex was built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought during World War II.

Consisting of a Colonnade and the large Memorial Cross, the park was commissioned in 1966 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos, himself a War Veteran, for the 25th Anniversary of WW2. The white Memorial Cross stands as a remembrance to the soldiers who fought and lost their lives in the Battle of Bataan. The shrine complex also includes a war museum with a wide array of collections from paintings of the Philippine heroes, to armaments used by the Filipino, American and Japanese forces during the battle.

From the colonnade and the cross, there is a panoramic view of Bataan, Corregidor Island and on a clear day, the city of Manila situated about 50 km (31 mi) across Manila Bay.

It's Memorial Cross is the World's Second Tallest Cross. The Memorial Cross is a towering structure at the highest point of Mount Samat, 555 m above sea level. The monument is made ofsteel and reinforced concrete with a lift and viewing gallery at the Cross's arms. A staircase also leads to the gallery in the wings. The height of the Cross is 92 m from the base; the height of the arms is 74 m from the base, with each arm measuring 30 m (15 on each side). The viewing gallery is 5.5 m by 27.4 m, with a 2.1 m clearance.

The exterior of the Cross is finished with chipped granolithic marble. The base until the 11 m level is capped with sculptural slabs and relief titled Nabiag Na Bato also by Abueva, depicting important historical figures and events like the execution of Jose Rizal, Lapu-Lapu and Antonio Luna.

My Personal Experience:

Back when I was a child, around 9 or 10 years old, my family went to Mount Samat. Since cars can travel up to the mountain, at the foot of the cross, it is much easier for access. But, many vigil walks every first week of April, people from Bataan gather and walk up the mountain to pray, to commemorate, to pay respect for the soldiers who fought against Japanese invasion. Up there was peaceful- you can see a spectacular view. You can unwind because it is quiet, it is peaceful and it is beautiful. Visitors have access to the cross. You can ride the elevator so that you can get inside the cross and take a look of Bataan. At morning, you can see fog inside the cross- the windows are open and you'll feel like you're in heaven. It's not that high like Mt. Everest, but, you're inside a cross that's 555m above sea level! If you come and visit Bataan, you should really see Mount Samat.

So, overall, Bataan is a place where people are not just brave, they are also hospitable and eco-friendly. Come and visit Bataan! Adventure awaits you...