ARAW ng Kagitingan is fast approaching. This is the day we have set aside to remember the heroism of our ancestors. Many people thought it was like another version of Araw ng mga Bayani but, in fact, it is specifically commemorated in honor of our World War 2 heroes. It has become part of Philippine Veterans Week, which honors our combatants throughout the history of our Armed Forces.
Recently, I heard an admired Filipino writer declare at a meeting that “[a]s a country, we never won battles.” Although I was shocked because I expected him to know better, I could not blame him. As a people, the struggles for freedom we always remember were the ones we lost — specifically Pinaglabanan in 1896 and Bataan in 1942. I blame it on our penchant for melodrama.
Continue reading with one of these options:
Ad-free access
P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
- Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
- Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)