De La Salle University - Dasmariñas

Name: Sabayton, Khaye S.

Course and Section: BS Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE21) MEB14
Subject: Mga Babasahin Hinggil sa Kasaysayan ng Pilipinas
Professor: Mr. Jumel G. Estrañero
University: De La Salle University-Dasmariñas

Today's relevance of the Philippine Day of Valor:

The fallen of Bataan or Abused OFW

I. Introduction

What attributes or characteristics define a bravery? A new study indicates that the response
may depend on the sort of heroism being discussed. According to a 2010 study, individuals who
have performed one-time acts of bravery (such as running into a burning building or saving
someone from the path of an oncoming train) are not necessarily that different from non-hero
control groups. In contrast, those who participate in lifelong heroics (such as professional nurses
who constantly console the sick and dying) do share a number of fundamental psychological
qualities, such as empathy, nurturing, and the urge to adhere to a moral code.

World-wide, the definition of "hero" has evolved over time. Everyone has their own opinion
on the qualities and traits that "heroes" should possess. Not only are they distinct from one another,
but they also have certain similarities. Historical heroes possessed the real attributes of valiant
warriors, whereas current heroes utilise modern technology to save lives. No matter what century
a hero is from, he or she have unique qualities. However, they may be compared in several ways.

The American army's capitulation at Bataan was the largest of its kind in the 20th century.
70,000 American and Filipino combatants surrendered and became prisoners of war. They walked
fifty-five kilometers from Mariveles in the south of the Bataan peninsula to San Fernando in the
province of Pampanga while suffering from sickness, injury, and hardship.

The difference in current times is that many heroes were present to defend citizens, save them,
or make sacrifices, rather than caring about who defeated them, as our OFWs are said to have been
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exposed to discrimination and maltreatment by their employers. According to the Department of

Foreign Affairs, the Philippine Overseas Employment Agency, and the Overseas Worker Welfare
Administration, exploitation of Overseas Filipino Workers is one of the most pervasive societal
issues. Employers have victimized overseas workers. It is a message that despite their eagerness,
OFWs remain a chronic concern. Due to the sacrifices, they have made and the adversity they have
faced, OFWs are deserving of our utmost respect. Also, let us honor them for being the courageous
martyrs that they are.

This research aims to establish a deeper understanding of the definition of heroism and bravery
in the Philippines by studying relevant journal papers and evaluating historical and contemporary
data. This study will also look at the apparent shifts in how actual strength and courage are
measured in contemporary society.

II. Body

The Day of Valor remembers the brave actions of real patriots in Bataan, both those who
sacrificed and those who survived. We also recognize every Filipino who has acknowledged
courage in the face of hardship. While historically it looks to be a victory for the Japanese invaders,
it is viewed as a courageous and patriotic gesture on the part of the Fallen Heroes of Bataan.

The Attack in the Pacific

On December 8, 1941, immediately after finishing the attack on Pearl Harbor, Japanese
troops invaded and attacked the Philippines. The Japanese attempted to conquer the nation through
force. The Japanese slaughtered, raped, and essentially, if not almost, wiped out a whole nation
and could have eradicated the Filipinos. Their primary objective was to conquer it and expand the
bases of the Axis of Power in the Pacific. After the United States lost many men at Pearl Harbor,
General Douglas MacArthur led his troops to the Philippines to aid their friends. The Japanese
outnumbered and outgunned of gun the American and Philippine forces. General MacArthur was
with former Philippines president Manuel L. Quezon. President Quezon nearly begged for further
forces. He instructed General MacArthur to return and recruit additional soldiers. “I will bring you
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in triumph on the points of my bayonets to Manila," MacArthur stated. President Quezon inquired
if he would become a prisoner of war if he were to be seized by the Japanese. The probability of
the president becoming a captive of war while the Japanese control the majority of the territory
was substantial. The Philippines' final chance was for General MacArthur to depart the nation and
seek backup. General Douglas MacArthur fled from the Philippines to Australia on March 11,
1942, in order to obtain further forces. General MacArthur abandoned the surviving Americans
and de Guzman as he escaped. Filipino forces were in a precarious position against the Japanese.
The United States and Philippine forces were forced to surrender to the Japanese.

Fallen of Bataan

On April 9, 1942, officials in control of Bataan, where Filipino and American forces were
the main opposition in the fight against the Japanese, formally surrendered. Third Lieutenant
Normando Ildefonso Reyes, presenting a message written by Captain Salvador P. Lopez,
announced to the Philippines and the rest of the world via the Voice of Freedom radio transmission
from the Malinta Tunnel on Corregidor, "Bataan has fallen."

At 6:00 a.m., they received confirmation that Bataan had fallen. They knew in their hearts
that terrible days were ahead. However, no one could have predicted what the Japanese had in
mind. They were harsh and vicious to American and Filipino soldiers. The tragedy placed upon
soldiers who fought in the Philippine cities of Bataan, Corregidor, and so on was a weight that
only great heroes could bear. Many men died, and the pictures of their suffering companions
haunted those who survived.

Bataan's circumstances were awful. Malaria was prevalent in the Philippines, and the
atmosphere was oppressive. The issue was worsened by the fact that American soldiers were not
fully equipped to deal with an invasion. Almost 6,000 men were infected with malaria or other
ailments during their stay in Bataan. Most of the men struggled just to deal with these factors. The
impending Japanese invasion and the terrible prisoner torture that would follow further
exacerbated the severe situation.
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Prisoners of War were forced to embark on the Bataan Death March, a treacherous trek.
This death march was "considered the largest American-Filipino submission since the American
Civil War." The Japanese want to employ the Bataan Death March as a strategy for a fate superior
to death. But the seemingly end of the war was just the beginning of an unimaginable suffering.
Following the surrender was the bloody Bataan Death March where thousands of Filipino and
American soldiers were forced to walk from Mariveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga. From
there, Prisoners of Wars were loaded inside waiting box cars that delivered them to Capas, Tarlac.
But since the transportation wasn’t any better due to poor ventilation, troops suffered from
suffocation, sickness, and death. The POWs kept on marching again for 14 to 20 kilometers before
reaching the internment camps.

The fall of Bataan ends a heroic, if not the most heroic, chapter in the history of the Filipino
people's fight for freedom. Their country and fellow citizens will regard every guy who
participated in this conflict as a national hero and be eternally grateful for their service. They
should continue to motivate us to become heroes of our own family and nation, even only in a little
manner.

Heroes of Today or Slaves of Today

As Filipinos, we are expected to be national heroes. We are obligated to protect our nation
against any foreign invaders, be it a political invasion, an ideological invasion, or a health invasion.
We are obligated to preserve the peace and order of our nation. Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs)
who heroically battled in these tough times are the modern-day heroes. The study of the history of
abuse against OFWs is a challenging undertaking; bargaining is the means through which abused
OFWs can obtain justice. The history of mistreatment against OFWs is occasionally disregarded,
abandoned, and forgotten. The history of mistreatment of OFWs is comparable to the historical
view of slavery during the Middle Ages, the Elizabethan period, and before World War I. The
abuse may be both public and private on a global scale and at any point in time; as the majority of
OFWs are women, we fear this type of abuse in the protection of their future, so that the OFWs
are aware of their rights and advocate for them. Mistreatment of OFWs is cruel and a violation of
human rights. Different forms of abuse have occurred, and the outcomes of abuse against OFWs
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vary based on the nature of the individual crime, the relationship between the victim and the abuser,
and the place where the abuse occurred. In sexual abuse impacts abuse against OFWs, depression
or health problems have resulted in unexplained disappearances of the afflicted OFWs. Before
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. assumed power, there were numerous unresolved crimes,
Filipinos in prison, the death penalty, disappearances, and deaths overseas. Middle East and Asian
OFWs have been the worst mistreated on record.

Why Today's Heroes

According to the 2019 Survey on Filipinos Overseas, there were 2.2 million OFWs
projected to have worked abroad at some point between April and September of 2019. Overseas
contract employees make up around 95% of them (OCW). OCWs are OFWs who have an active
employment contract, whereas OFWs who are not OCWs are migrant workers who do not now
have an employment contract but did in the past. Because of the numerous challenges they face
while working abroad for their families and their major contributions to the economy and growth
of their nation, Pinoy OFW are said to be modern-day heroes. These challenges include physical,
mental, social, and emotional ones.

Remittance inflows from OFWs are significant. Fourth in the world in terms of remittance
recipients is the Philippines. By helping to reduce poverty and provide a steady financial flow and
circulation, remittances from OFWs aid in the economic growth of the nation. In addition to
meeting their own families' basic needs, OFWs' remittances have helped keep the country's
economy afloat by supplying money during times of international financial instability. The second
biggest contributor to the nation's foreign exchange reserves is remittances from OFWs.

Poor working conditions are frequently faced by OFWs. In order to meet their family's
fundamental necessities, many Filipinos leave the nation since they are unable to work in the
Philippines owing to their inadequate educational background or lack of work experience.
Caretakers and domestic assistants make up the majority of the workforce for women. They
diligently toil away to support their family despite unfavorable working circumstances. The loss
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of familial contact affects OFWs. One of the largest sacrifices they make is severing ties with their
family; they aren't there for their kids' birthday parties, can't care for their parents when they're
sick, and can't go to their burial.

Loneliness and homesickness have a detrimental effect on OFWs. Particularly for individuals
who are young and new to working abroad, homesickness and loneliness can be quite difficult to
handle. Because of their tight familial ties, Filipinos find it agonizing to spend a long time apart
from their loved ones. In exchange for a career, they forego the importance of "family." Because
OFWs lack certainty about what lies ahead and what threats may lurk overseas, working abroad is
physically and emotionally taxing. Sadly, numerous OFWs have brought corpse bags back to their
home countries. Terrorism, unfavorable working conditions, and unfair treatment are all
perpetrated against them. To defend themselves or preserve their lives, many people are assaulted
and killed.

III. Analysis

A review and collection of prior research was done in order to achieve the aforementioned
objectives. This was accomplished by utilizing reliable online content. The papers analyzed and
gathered center on the significance of the Philippines' day of heroism between the dead of Bataan
and the abused OFW.

In order to save the lives of the Black Hawk aircraft's crew, Master Sergeant Gary I. Gordon
and Sergeant First Class Randall D. Shughart of the US Delta Force asked to be inserted into the
crash site of the downed helicopter on October 3, 1993, during the Battle of Mogadishu. They were
ultimately allowed inside the combat area after having their request turned down twice, and they
then started to guard the lone survivor, pilot Chief Warrant Officer Michael Durrant. Durant was
protected by Gordon and Shughart from Somali raids, but they ultimately perished and Durant
was captured. Gordon and Shughart received the Medal of Honor posthumously for their deeds
(Congressional Medal of Honor Society, 1994a, 1994b).

This tale is only one of many bravery and heroism-related incidents in American history.
People risking their life to save others from impending harm is a recurring subject in these
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narratives. Despite the commonality of this topic, these tales also show numerous distinctions,
including the situation, historical backdrop, group adherence, age, personality, and traits of the
actor, the decision-making process, the period of time in which the deed was carried out, and many
other factors. Not much empirical evidence has been obtained to offer light on this type of
differentiated human behavior, despite the enormous interest of scholars in the field of courage
throughout human history (Jayawickreme & Di Stefano, 2012).

This interest with bravery and heroism is documented as far back as 420 BCE with Socrates,
Plato (translated into English in 1997), and Aristotle (translated into English in 1987), and it
continues into the present day with certain well-known psychologists like Rachman (1990) and
Zimbardo (2011).

Definition

Although we have numerous terms to express it, like "bravery," "courage," and "heroism,"
physical bravery remains a mostly mysterious phenomena. This concept is shown by the many
operational definitions employed by researchers in the field, as well as the varying incidences and
experiences of heroism. For instance, courage is sometimes defined as "overcoming fears for no
purpose other than the act itself" (Harrison, 2012, p. 24). Thus, crossing a rope bridge across a
steep valley is considered a courageous act, but it lacks the extra characteristics that are typically
associated with daring and bravery. The concept of bravery appears to be more elusive: Plato states
at the conclusion of Laches, "We have not discovered what courage is" (1997, p. 686), while Miller
says in his book The Mystery of Courage, "No single theory, for none I have seen, nor none I can
come up with, will work" (2000, p. 14). The difficulty in describing these notions is a result of the
numerous interwoven layers that comprise bold and heroic action. Aristotle, for instance, linked
courage to serving a noble and morally right purpose (trans. 1987). To the professional soldier,
who selected a vocation that requires guts, it does not matter if he battles to expand freedom and
democracy, to preserve oil and natural resources, or for fame, adventure, or money (Olsthoorn,
2007). Moreover, culture and society exert a constant and dynamic impact on the concept of brave
action. Consequently, a person may be seen as a coward and traitor in one time and location, yet
as a bold personality in another. For instance, Warrant Officer Hugh Thompson Jr., an American
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helicopter pilot who defended Vietnamese women and children during the My Lai Massacre, was
first viewed as a traitor after the event, but was eventually given the Distinguished Flying Cross
(Goldstein, 2006). The view of suicide terrorists as heroes in certain portions of Islamic
communities is another illustration of this dilemma (Hassan, 2008). Diverse varieties of courage
and bravery have been presented in an effort to resolve these paradoxical contradictions. For
example, "physical courage" entails deeds that bear the danger of physical hurt or death (Putman,
2004).

Physical Bravery and Heroic Behavior

Even ordinary people can become heroes(Franco et al., 2011; Zimbardo, 2011). While
some empirical evidence suggests that both personality and environmental characteristics play a
role in heroic action (Jayawickreme & Di Stefano, 2012), no real predictors of courageous behavior
have been identified (Cougle, 2009). Consequently, we understand absolutely nothing about the
individuals who sacrifice their lives to save others. Any information that might shed light on the
relationship between personal traits and circumstance needs of courageous and heroic deeds would
be much appreciated. Following is a list of prior research addressing traits related with courage
and bravery.

Rachman discovered a clear association between self-confidence and terror: the more self-
confident a person is, the less fear they will feel in conflict. This association was discovered in
World War II combat personnel, parachuting course participants, and bomb disposal crews. In
addition, it was discovered that the existence of a talent appropriate to coping with a risky
circumstance was closely associated to self-confidence, hence adding to bravery.

On the battlefield, it was discovered that both fear and bravery may be modeled by others. During
World War II, forty percent of the men expressed increased terror after witnessing a fellow soldier
panic in battle. Similarly, it was shown that the presence of a courageous commander was one of
the most critical variables in soldiers' ability to cope with battle situations.
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IV. Recommendation

Given that the study examined the evolution of the traditional Philippines' national bravery to
today's modern bravery in the Philippines, the following are suggested:

The researcher recommends further historical evolutions of Filipino bravery and valor in the past
and now.

The researcher suggests investigating other heroic studies beyond those listed in the article and
their own updated scientific studies.

The researcher suggests a broader search for historical and traditional heroism from the past, as
well as a deeper discussion of its origin including foreign studies.

Finally, researchers should seek for further study on the psychology of modern bravery and
heroism.

V. Conclusion and Way Ahead

Different individuals associate the term "heroism" with various concepts. This is because
people have varying conceptions of heroism and its meaning. Since prehistoric days, the meaning
of heroism has changed significantly and will continue to evolve. Despite these changes, there are
certain characteristics of heroes that will never alter. A hero is a person who is adored or idolized
for bravery, extraordinary accomplishments, or virtuous traits.

Both the american-filipino army of death march and the heroes of Abused OFW are glorified
for bearing these characteristics. No of the chronological period, heroes will always be powerful,
courageous, and respected.

In the past, heroes performed good things for different reasons than they do today. Due to the
scarcity of food, water, and building materials, life was much more difficult during these times.
This resulted in many ancient heroes having selfish goals. They merely performed specific chores
in order to obtain something. Odysseus is an example of an old hero with selfish motivations. On
his lengthy trip home, according to the article "Myth of the Legendary Odysseus," Odysseus only
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fulfilled adventures that would benefit him and allow him to return. He achieved the duties of
outsmarting Circes, abandoning Calypso, and conquering Polyphemus all for himself.

The characteristics that identify a hero have also evolved considerably throughout time. People
in traditional times were primarily concerned with the hero's power and the end of their mission.
A hero was characterized by their ability to successfully complete a mission. During ancient and
traditional times, only men were considered heroes. In modern civilization, a hero might be a man,
a woman, or occasionally even an animal. Firefighters, police officers, soldiers, and physicians
who risk their lives every day to assist others are considered heroes.

Every day, firefighters risk their lives to help others. The police work diligently to safeguard
the public from criminals. Soldiers abandon their families to defend someone they've never met.
Doctors rescue the lives of patients regardless of their background. People with the same
characteristics as these other heroes conduct unselfish gestures for others without being asked. A
hero in current times is somebody with the bravery to help others without expecting anything in
return.

Even the traditional depiction of the hero has evolved. The images of large, powerful warriors
have been replaced with genuine images of selfless humans. People are not usually aware of how
much heroes have changed since antiquity. It is crucial for individuals to grasp how the world has
formed heroism to appreciate how current heroes have evolved through time. As society continues
to develop and transform, the notion of hero will also continue to evolve. Some of traditional
heroes were far more self-centered than modern heroes. Modern heroes feature superior
characteristics, and their image is dramatically different from that of old heroes. In general, modern
heroes are superior than their historical counterparts as We did not need to march from Bataan to
Tarlac or sacrifice our lives for our nation in order to be considered heroes. Instead, we should just
love our nation and answer the call when necessary. Along with overseas Filipino workers, these
unseen local modern-day heroes are acknowledged for their perseverance in performing menial
labor to support their families and keep the Philippine economy viable and expanding.
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VI. References

Academic.Oup.Com, 2023, Psychology of Physical Bravery, Oxford Academic

https://academic.oup.com/edited-volume/42044/chapter/355798266. Accessed 18 Jan
2023.

Laquian, Eleanor. "Modern Day Heroes For National Heroes Day - Informing, Engaging
And Connecting Community". Canadianfilipino.Net, 2021,
https://www.canadianfilipino.net/opinion/editorial/modern-day-heroes-for-national-
heroes-day. Accessed 18 Jan 2023.

"Overseas Filipino Workers Become Economic Heroes". Aparc.Fsi.Stanford.Edu, 2013,

https://aparc.fsi.stanford.edu/news/overseas_filipino_workers_become_economic_heroes
_20130415. Accessed 19 Jan 2023.

"The Key Characteristics Of Heroes". Verywell Mind, 2023,

https://www.verywellmind.com/characteristics-of-heroism-2795943. Accessed 19 Jan
2023.

Alon-Alon, Pvt. "Araw Ng Kagitingan: Remembering The Brave In The Fall Of Bataan".
Army.Mil.Ph, 2022, https://army.mil.ph/home/index.php/featured-stories/1226-araw-ng-
kagitingan-remembering-the-brave-in-the-fall-of-bataan. Accessed 20 Jan 2023.

"Golden Haven | Salute To The Philippines' Modern-Day Heroes". Golden Haven

Memorial Parks, 2021, https://www.goldenhaven.com.ph/blog/salute-to-the-philippines-
modern-day-heroes/. Accessed 20 Jan 2023.
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VII. Message to Professor

Sir Jumel, good day! First and foremost, I'd want to thank you for giving us with so much
information and understanding in our life. You provided us with more than just information; you
also taught us life principles that will benefit us now and in the future. The most hardest thing to
do is say kudos. We are lucky, sir, because you have taught us different foundations in life, not
just about our subject's issues, but also about how to stay rational, focused, and driven. I
particularly admire your approachable attitude, which allowed us to be ourselves while also
reminding us that, aside from our parents, someone cares about and values our existence. Thank
you po.