World War II survivors start 102-km relay from Bataan to Pampanga

MARIVELES, Bataan — World War II survivors started the two-day commemoration of the historic Death March of 1942 yesterday by starting off a relay run that will retrace their journey from Kilometer Post Zero here to a railway station in San Fernando, Pampanga.

"This is the 20th staging of the oldest running ultra-marathon commemorating the heroism of our World War II patriots," said Ed Paez, founding organizer of the San Fernando Runners Unlimited Inc. (SAFER-RUN).

The Death March occured after Japanese forces made a final attack on Bataan on Good Friday on April 3, 1942. With his Filipino-American troops starving, US Maj. Gen. Edward King was forced to surrender his 73,000 troopers on April 9 in order to save lives. The Japanese gathered the troopers in this town and forced them to march up to San Fernando where they were herded into trains and brought to a concentration camp in O’Donnel in Capas, Tarlac. Many died during the march but an estimated 44,000 to 50,000 Filipinos survived the march.

Dubbed as Araw ng Kagitingan Ultra Marathon, the non-competitive relay run covers the 102-kilometer stretch of the Death March from Marivelez to San Fernando.

War veterans led the first 20 meters of the commemorative run then turned over the symbolic peace torch and flags of the Philippines, the United States, and Japan to the relay runners led by Paez.

Paez said the relay runners run through 10 towns in Bataan before spending the night at the Sto. Tomas Elementary School in Lubao, Pampanga, where provincial board member Lilia Pineda and her son, Lubao Mayor Dennis Pineda, received them.

Early today, the runners are to pass through Guagua and Bacolor on their way to the railway in San Fernando where the last 20 meters will again be run by veterans led by Veterans Federation of the Philippines-San Fernando post commander Jorge Conde, Pampanga Gov. Mark Lapid, Vice Gov. Joseller Guiao, Mayor Oscar Rodriguez, and Vice Mayor Edwin Santiago for the closing ceremonies.

Paez said that a marker will be unveiled at the railway station to mark the Death March. The marker was set up by the San Fernando Pampanga Heritage Foundation in cooperation with the National Historical Institute.