Araw ng Kagitingan prods ideals, deeds of veterans for youth- NHCP Chair

From the Philippine Information Agency (Apr 10): Araw ng Kagitingan prods ideals, deeds of veterans for youth- NHCP Chair

National Historical Commission of the Philippines (NHCP) Chairperson Rene Escalante remarked that the 75th Commemoration of the Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) not only preserves the ideals and deeds of veterans, but also promotes them to the youth of today.

“Needless to say, the fall of Bataan was among the most tragic events in Philippine history, but it was not in vain,” he said.

According to Escalante, the 9th of April 75 years ago marked the end of the four-month battle in Bataan, where the last line of defense for some 76,000 Filipinos and Americans finally surrendered to the Japanese forces.

“The prolonged defense of Bataan bought ample time for the escape of the Philippine government and General Douglas McArthur to Australia and the formation of guerrilla resistance units from dispersed military forces and civilians. These two events were instrumental in the liberation of the Philippines in 1945,” he stressed.

Likewise, the NHCP Chairperson emphasized that the sheer tenacity and valor of the Filipino and American forces are worth remembering.

Quoting the late Lt. Normado Reyes, Escalante shared, “Bataan has fallen, but the spirit that made it stand a beacon to all liberty-loving peoples of the world cannot fail.”

“We will remember our heroes of World War II, both dead and the living veterans. We inherit from them our freedom, as well as the responsibility to preserve and wisely use it,” he said.

In 1961, Republic Act 3022 was approved, making the 9th of April as “Bataan Day”, and in 1980, the said commemoration was expanded to “Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor)”.

http://news.pia.gov.ph/article/view/3221491804490/araw-ng-kagitingan-prods-ideals-deeds-of-veterans-for-youth--nhcp-chair