Like any other typical holiday, today I woke up feeling grateful-- no classes, double pay at work, everything and everyone is at ease. But only today did I realize, I was feeling grateful for this particular holiday for the wrong reasons. I was blissfully ignorant of the significance this day holds.
Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9 (Day of Valor), here in the Philippines was first declared a holiday in 1961. But the Fall of Bataan actually happened on April 9, 1942. Below is a short excerpt of history taken from https://ph.asiatatler.com/
" Bataan commander Major General Edward P King, Jr, surrendered more than 76,000 of his starving and disease-ridden troops (64,000 Filipinos and 12,000 Americans) to Japan.
As captives, the soldiers were forced to endure the infamous 140-kilometre Bataan Death March to Camp O'Donnell in Capas, Tarlac. Along the way, thousands died due to famine, heat prostration, untreated wounds, and wanton or execution-style murder.
Historians believe that only 54,000 of the 76,000 prisoners were able to reach Camp O'Donnell. The exact number of deaths and escapees was difficult to assess.."
I am not much of a fan of history lectures back when I was still in middle school and high school (also in college, apologies to my teachers). But I did retain the important bits of history. And as students, we were taught that the reason History is as every bit important as Mathematics, Science and Languages is that as citizens-no-- as humans, the best lessons in life can be gleaned from our country's history. And it is often considered a great feat if the people don't let the dreaded inhumane part of our history repeat in the present day.
Did you know that on that fateful year, the Philippines was the last of the Southeast Asian countries to surrender to the Japanese? Now, on this fateful pandemic year of 2021, it seems the Philippines have already sided with the oppressor even though no war has even started yet.
I fear for the future of our country. The past should have taught us well. Instead, most of Filipinos are blindsided by the glory they call our government. I hope this is the last year of corrupted politicians.
This is why I urge Filipino readers here to exercise their right of suffrage well next year. Let the memory and legacy of our fallen heroes of Bataan serve as a clear lesson that while we can still stand, we can march for our continuous freedom from the oppressor. While we owe it to them to enjoy our freedom on this holiday, we also owe it to them to be purposefully aware of our rights.
Don't let their sacrifice be for naught.
lead image from:
https://yoorekka.com/magazine/metro-manila/2019/04/03/this-week-in-metro-manila-april-6-to-12-2019