A Day of Filipino Valor and Heroism

Today, April 9, 2026 is the 84th anniversary of the historic Death March, which was one of the Filipinos most shining moments in history. It used to be celebrated as "The Fall of Bataan", but since we did not want to focus on our defeat but on the gallantry of our heroes, we changed the name to "Araw Ng Kagitingan".

On April 9, 1942. amidst the scorching sun of summer, some 66,000 hungry, thirsty, sickly and famished Filipino soldiers, along with similarly situated 12,000 American service men, were compelled by the Japanese Imperial Army to walk, many of them barefooted, from the towns of Bagac and Mariveles, in the province of Bataan to Capas Tarlac, via San Fernando, Pampanga. They were not allowed to ride any vehicle, not even to draw drinking water from wells along the way. They were not allowed to eat and were forced to walk under the punishing heat of summer and Holy Week. The Japanese were extremely cruel and inhuman.

From Bagac, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga, it is no less than 80.2 kilometers of rough roads at that time. From Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando is 96.4 kilometers. Add to that the distance between San Fernando to Capas, Tarlac, the location of Camp O Donnel, which was 42.6 kilometers. Because of exhaustion and heat stroke, and due to the summary execution of those who attempted to escape or to find food and water, some 18,000 Filipinos and 1,000 Americans died on the way. The rest were detained in dirty, congested and very hot quarters in Camp O'Donnel. The Japanese were totally merciless.

The written accounts of survivors told us that the Death March was a long and oppressive walk to hell where Japanese soldiers showed despicable cruelty to the Filipinos and Americans. They were subjected to physical, verbal and emotional abuses and wanton, killings on the spot for those who attempted to receive water and food from civilians who took pity on them along the way. Those who attempted to rest under the shades of trees and shrubs were executed on the spot by bayonets or bullets.

The historical accounts in our books tell the story of the Pantingan River massacre of 400 Filipino and American soldiers, in a river near the Mount Samat, adjacent to the Pilar-Bagac Road. Most of them were hogtied with telephone wires and ropes and were shot summarily for the simple acts of not following orders and for talking back to the members of the Japanese Imperial Army. The massacre was ordered by Japanese colonel Masanobo Tsuji, who palpably and tyrannically committed war crimes and crimes against humanity.

After the war, the Japanese commander, General Masaharu Homma and two of his officers, Major General Yoshitaka Kawane and Colonel Kurataro Hirano were tried by the United States Military Commission for war crimes and sentenced to death on charges of failing to prevent their subordinates from committing despicable atrocities. But Masanobo Tsuji was able to escape. Homma, Kawane and Hirano were executed in accordance with International Law. Tsuji was able to report back hone and was assigned later to Laos, where he was captured by natives and unconfirmed rumor had it that his flesh was fed to the dogs.

Today, as we reflect on the reprehensible cruelties inflicted on the Filipinos by the Japanese soldiers, I also remember my late father, who, at 17, joined the guerilla and fought the Japanese during those times when our valiant defenders of Bataan were suffering in the Death March. My father was wounded in hand-to-hand combat, and was awarded a medal by the US Army. He was made a US citizen and lived in Hawaii for more than 10 years. He lived in Washington for another 10 years where he died. My siblings brought home his remains and I buried him with military honors.

Today, 84 years after the Death March, we should remember that we were dragged into war because of the conflict between the US and Japan. The pains, anguish and bitterness in the hearts of the Filipinos, including those of the comfort women, who were made sex slaves by Japanese military officers,  were never acknowledged, much less fully repaid by the Japanese government and people. Japan owes the Philippines beyond pecuniary estimation. And America should stop dragging us in its conflicts with China and Russia.

It is high time that we, Filipinos, should stand on our own feet, and chart our own destiny based on valor, honor and dignity.