Last Maundy Thursday I went to Bataan to do my Visita Iglesia since my supposed Holy Week trip to Romblon didn't push through. I decided to visit some old Spanish colonial churches in Bataan and also to make time for a side trip to the Mt. Samat War Memorial, which is just fitting since I consider myself a World War II history junkie.
Mt. Samat War Memorial: Honoring the Valor of Bataan
The Shrine of Valour (Dambana ng Kagitingan)
Mount Samat's highest point measures 1,821 feet above sea level, and at its summit stands the "Dambana ng Kagitingan" (Shrine of Valour), which itself measures 302 feet high and features a viewing gallery on the wings of the cross.
The War Memorial was started in 1966 as part of then-President Ferdinand Marcos' plan to create a shrine dedicated to the fallen heroes of Bataan. At that time, Marcos was brazenly selling his own exaggerated tales of experience in the Battle of Bataan to anyone who would listen. He bragged endlessly about his 27 war medals—claims which historians eventually found out later to be faked and doctored. As it turns out, he was never truly involved in the defense of Bataan.
Despite the political theater behind its inception, this war memorial was fittingly erected in the exact place where the Japanese forces had to go through the eye of a needle just to vanquish the fiercely determined, combined forces of Filipino and American troops.
The Memorial was finished in time for the 25th anniversary of the end of WWII in 1970. It is now composed of a scenic park, a small historical museum, a sweeping colonnade, and the towering memorial cross designed by Lorenzo del Castillo and National Artist Napoleon Abueva.
The Fall of Bataan
In Bataan, the combined forces of the Filipino and American troops holed themselves up and engaged the advancing Japanese forces in intense, all-out fighting. Bataan and Corregidor proved to be the massive thorn in the side of the Japanese Imperial Army, who were used to encountering swiftly surrendering armies in their rapid blitzkrieg across Southeast Asia, where they met little to no resistance in places like Singapore, Malaysia, and Indochina.
Their rampage was so smooth that, according to the Japanese timetable, they planned to advance toward Australia by the first quarter of 1942, expecting only pocket resistance in the Philippines. However, they gravely underestimated the courageous fighting heart of the Filipinos and Americans. The battle in both Corregidor and Bataan reached such a fever pitch that the assault on Australia had to be suspended while Japanese forces bombed every square inch of the peninsula for months.
On April 9, 1942, Bataan commander Maj. General Edward King had seen enough of the bravery of his troops. Amidst a crippling lack of supplies, disease, and endless air raids by the Japanese, he decided to negotiate the surrender of the Bataan war theater to avoid total annihilation. After a few hours of negotiating with his Japanese adversary, Major General Nagano, the "Battling Bastards of Bataan"—battle-weary and almost starved to death, but with their fighting spirits still intact—laid down their arms in surrender.
In a historic and sorrowful address broadcasted over the Voice of Freedom radio network, it was announced: "Bataan has fallen. The Philippine-American troops on this war-ravaged and bloodstained peninsula have laid down their arms. With heads bloody but unbowed, they have yielded to the superior force and numbers of the enemy... Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand—a beacon to all the liberty-loving peoples of the world—cannot fall."
The Death March & Enduring Legacy
Bataan may have fallen, but it drastically slowed down the Japanese forces, who up to that point had felt invincible in their torrid advance across Asia. The prolonged battles in both Bataan and Corregidor served as an early warning of their impending defeat in World War II. We may have lost the battle in Bataan, but not the war itself; history shows that the gallant stand made in Bataan rivaled the Battle of Britain in turning the tide of war in favor of the Allies.
After the surrender, more than 60,000 Filipino and 15,000 American Prisoners of War were forced to endure the infamous "Bataan Death March"—a 97-kilometer killer march from Mariveles, Bataan to Camp O'Donnell in Tarlac. Under harrowing conditions brought upon by extreme starvation, brutal physical abuse, and untreated war wounds, more than 10,000 POWs tragically perished along the way.
The history of Bataan, as represented by this massive war memorial, strikes a deep chord within me. Reading the inscriptions on the wall and looking at the wartime pictures inside the museum gave me goosebumps. I was once again reminded of the immense greatness of that generation of Filipinos who fought and died during the war. I have nothing but respect and profound gratitude for what they displayed under the absolute worst human conditions possible.
My friend Rea, who is from Bataan, accompanied me that day along with her brother, who took us to the peak of Mount Samat. We spent about an hour and a half at the war memorial, lining up to access the viewing gallery at the wings of the cross. Being Holy Week, there were far more visitors than usual. Motorcycle riders arrived in groups, and families gathered together—both old and young—to be reminded of Bataan's brave history. I didn't mind the crowd, though. After a 30-minute wait, we made our way to the viewing deck and looked out over the thick forests of the peninsula.
As I looked around, I imagined what it was like back in 1942. In my mind, I could suddenly hear the buzzing sounds of Tora-Tora planes dropping bombs and the distant sounds of cries and agony. It was enough for me to realize how incredibly lucky I am not to have lived through that time.
In hindsight, I will never be a part of that great generation. However, I can always pay homage to them by refusing to forget our history—especially those harrowing days when ordinary men of immense valor fought for our country to the bitter end.
Planning a deeper historical and scenic adventure across the province? Check out our complete Bataan Travel Guide and Articles for itineraries, heritage sites, and historical deep-dives.
