Fall of Bataan - Araw ng Kagitingan

War Plan Orange 3

- bataan ang magiging sentro ng depensa sa bansa

- Island of Corregidor

- serves to frustrate the Japanese colonizers na masakop completely ang Philippines

- hindi mailagay ang mga supply sa manila

- Hangga't di bumabagsak ang Bataan, it serves as a hope of victory for most asian countries

- Most soldiers are not totally soldiers. Some are farmers, students who were just trained for 6 mos to
fight against japanese troops

April 9, 1942

- Bataan has fallen

- tayo ang pinakahuling bumagsak

- 70,000+ filipino and american soldiers ang nakibahagi sa deathmarch

Deathmarch

- more than 100km from Mareveles, Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga

- pagdating, siniksik sila sa maliliit na bagon papuntang camp odonnell sa capaz, tarlac

- 20,000+died

We celebrate the Fall of Bataan not to celebrate our defeat but to commemorate the soldiers' kagitingin,
katatagan at kabayanihan

- it was a tragedy we hope will never be repeated

WW2 Unsung Heroes

- women provides rear line support --> they cooked food, organize things etc. for the guerillas

- mardalena leones

- guro, 22

- nakulong for 5 mos and there, natuto ng wikang hapon

- built relationship with the japanese and became a spy from feb 27 - sep 26, 1944

- played a key role sa pagbabalik ni douglas mcarthur who was in australia

- the lioness of filipino guerilla agents

- hunters rotc

- students formed from philippine military academy

- 3rd yr and 4th yr ay hinikayat na makipaglaban sa bataan

- fight japanese outside bataan

- formed by 3 cadets from PMA

At first glance, the Fall of Bataan draw a notion of defeat for the Filipinos. Many had died, and those that
survived were hunted and tortured by visions of their suffering companions. People were traumatized, as
infrastractures and settings were destoyed - falling deeply into state of depression. However, to look at it
on the other corner of the situation, it was rather a remarkable event of patriotism and heroism for and
among the Filipino people. Given that we were wrecked and dejected by the power of the colonizers,
the fact that many Filipinos, even women and youths, have fought for the independence of our country
is truly a must to acknowledge and commemorate. Herewith, different traits of a hero has come into my
realization as to how the Philippines had come to its victorious bravery:

1. Courage. Magdalena Leones, a 22 years old professor at the time of the battle in Bataan, was jailed for
5 months, and then learned Nihonggo for the sake that she can deploy information to the Guerillas,
which was done successfully. She became a spy for almost half a year, moved despite the risks and
dangers therein, and act in spite of the fear that inevitably settled. Consequently, one traits of a true
hero involves having the courage to face the horror they have within.

2. Resilient. As said in the video, after Bataan, which serves as the wall in protecting the sovereignty, had
fallen, Hunters ROTC, college students formed by cadets from Philippine Military Academy, rebuilt their
base in Rizal to continue their plans of releasing their comrades out of bars guarded by the Japanese.
Herewith, the determination of these youths provides light to that remarkable occurrence that no
matter how hard the situation is, whether it pulls you down and makes it almost impossible to stand up,
a hero will always find ways and reasons to fight and be on the ground again.

3. Strong. To become a true hero does not only encompasses being able to hold weapons, put an end to
enemies, and proclaim victory. Rather, it also involves being mentally and emotionally storng and
capable. The soldiers at that time not only walked more than 100 kilometers of valley to fight for the
country, but they also endured watching their comrades gradually coming to grief and losing their
breathes. It is, although already given, to become physically strong, it is also expected they can live
through the experiences and trauma that they may have during the battle.

4. Modest. People who have fought for our country do not, initially or subsequently, seek for recognition
or praise for their actions - they do that because they have a strong sense of empathy and
understanding. They have the ultimate purpose of bringing peace and freedom to the country.

5. Has genuive love for what he is fighting for. All highlighted individuals in the videos have a common
characteristics as to why they were regarded marvelous to the independence of the Philippines - their
love for the country. Magdalena Leones, Hunters ROTC, soldiers, etc. continued to fight, as much as
defeat seems more probable. For months, and even years, they chose to stand still and exchange bullets
to a more trained, more privileged troops of the Japanese, despite the fact that their lives are on the
line. They chose to be selfless, resilient, strong, and modest for themselves, for the Filipinos, for our
independence, and most especially, for the country and its future.