Dauntless Souls

 

    The blinding certainty of war's result is what makes it so unthinkable. Whatever the circumstances or background, the aftermath is still the same. It should come as no surprise that war is governed by the most nefarious of motives. It is often followed by death. Suffering is an unavoidable part of life.

     The Araw ng Kagitingan, or Day of Valour, honors Filipino and American soldiers who fought Japanese forces during World War II. 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. Against General Douglas McArthur's orders, he surrendered. The soldiers were forced to hike 90 miles to San Fernando's Camp O'Donnell. Thousands of prisoners died from starvation, exhaustion, and diseases before reaching the camp during the trek, also known as the Bataan Death March. The meaning of the Battle of Bataan in 1942 should not be overlooked by our youth, the current generation, or future generations. In order to create and develop a strong nation, one must have a strong sense of patriotism and respect for heroes. The actions and sacrifices of our soldiers in claiming victory against the odds, as well as the townspeople's role in providing relief to the captured heroes, will give greater meaning to big words like patriotism, independence, bravery, and resilience as we commemorate Araw ng Kagitingan every year. 

     Our past, or even our present, is not the end of history. The Araw ng Kagitingan reminds us that our bravery must extend beyond protecting our shores from foreign invasion. Our enemies can be found within our own nation, amongst ourselves, as we have seen in numerous instances. Individuals and groups with self-serving motives abound, often colluding with foreigners with their own agendas. The Araw ng Kagitingan can never be solely about the bravery of those who came before us and fought. The call to valor is a reminder to every Filipino of who we are, what we've accomplished in the past, what ideals we hold dear today, and what we must do to protect them.

References:

https://ph.asiatatler.com/life/heres-everything-that-happened-on-araw-ng-kagitingan

https://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/philippines/araw-ng-kagitingan

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