Day of Valor
The Day of Valor, also known as Araw ng Kagitingan, honors the bravery of Filipinos and American soldiers during World War II when the Philippines was invaded by the Japanese. At dawn on April 9, 1942, Major General Edward P. King of the United States Army was forced to surrender over 76,000 Filipinos, Chinese, and American soldiers to the Japanese. The soldiers were expected to hike 90 miles (145 kilometers) to San Fernando's Camp O'Donnell. Thousands of inmates died from malnutrition, thirst, and illnesses before reaching the camp during the trek (also known as the Bataan Death March). Despite their defeat, the captured soldiers remained strong and emerged as heroes as a result of the battle. The fall of Corregidor was hastened by the defeat of Bataan. However, if the Japanese had not taken this stance, they might have easily ...