Philippines Commemorate 81st Anniversary of Bataan Death March with Annual Ride for Valor 2023

Hello po! Friends, it is of utmost urgency for us to give our respect and tribute to war veterans and the comfort women, especially since only a few are remaining. Last December 7, 2022 (which coincides with the eve of Japanese military invasion on December 8, 1941), I had the pleasure of being invited to a Pandesal Forum for Ride for Valor. I had long wanted to attend one since the topics are always relevant. So I was thrilled to finally be able to visit the historically significant Kamuning Bakery Cafe (since 1939). 

Right to Left: Moderator Wilson Lee Flores, Columnist and Businessman; Panelists Cong. Roman Romulo, author of House Bill No. 5719 for college education to integrate comprehensive study of World War II history, especially the struggles & heroism of Filipino soldiers; Mike Villa-Real, National Executive Vice-President of Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP) Sons & Daughters Association, Inc. (SDAI), First Vice-President of the Philippine Veterans Bank; and Atty. Dennis Gorecho, Advocate for Comfort Women victims, Flowers for Lolas.

In line with the 81st anniversary of the Fall of Bataan in 2023, Philippine Veterans Bank calls on bikers and other enthusiasts to support and join the upcoming Ride for Valor 2023. The annual event, a non-competitive 160 kilometers long bike ride, will trace the original route of the Bataan Death March. The ride commemorates the camaraderie, bravery, and sacrifice of Filipinos and Americans who fought for our freedom.

Aside from rekindling heroism, Ride for Valor slated on March 5, 2023, aims to bring to consciousness the historical significance of the Death March in the struggle for freedom of brave Filipinos during World War 2.

Mariveles is one of the two starting points of the infamous Bataan Death March and will be the same site where the Ride for Valor will kick-off.

“Ride for Valor aims to be an instrument for today’s generation to rediscover the role of Bataan during World War 2,” said Mike Villa-Real, PVB first vice president for marketing & communications. PVB is a commercial bank owned by World War II veterans and their families.

The “Ride for Valor” was initiated to raise funds for the Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (FAME) to enable them to save our heroes’ historical markers so that we may remember their sacrifice. About 10,000 brave soldiers died along the route; many of the bodies were never identified or recovered.

The Filipino-American Memorial Endowment (FAME), a non-government organization that maintains the kilometer markers of the Bataan Death March from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. In the past, Bataan Death March markers had been destroyed, uprooted, and neglected due to accidents and other road projects.

The format for 2023’s ride is Gran Fondo or “Big Ride,” where each participant will have a “passport” that they need to bring to three stops: Mt. Samat in Bataan, San Fernando Train Station in Pampanga, and the Death March Memorial Shrine in Capas, Tarlac.

A mechanic will be on standby to help those who will experience mechanical issues, and roving marshals to monitor the progress of the participants. Support vehicles are allowed, but participants should not ride the vehicle unless they decide to withdraw from the bike ride.

Interested participants may register via the Ride for Valor page on Facebook. Only bikes with brakes are allowed in the event, and participants must be fully vaccinated.

Around 80,000 Filipino and American soldiers and prisoners of war were forced by the Japanese military to march 69 miles from Bataan to Tarlac during World War II. Only some 54,000 persons reached the camp, and around 20,000 died due to starvation, dehydration, diseases, and the brutality of Japanese captors.

For more information, visit http://www.veteransbank.com.ph and Ride for Valor on Facebook.

Flanking the panelists are Diego Almirante and Glenn Cadorna of Wartime Heritage Guild, a group of World War II re-enactors and history enthusiasts who are helping promote history.

It pains me to know that the Japanese government (kind as they may be in giving donations), had never formally apologized for the wartime sexual slavery atrocities. Further, whereas Korea had many monuments of comfort women, the SOLE statue of these victims of sexual violence in the Philippines, was conveniently "lost"! 

In school, we were taught that Japanese had three years occupation in the Philippines which resulted in one million Filipino deaths. So it is important to remember World War II heroism of veterans & heroes in the Philippines, promote history and uphold peace in Asia.

Let us cherish the heroes and the victims as well, and ensure that their sacrifice will never be forgotten by future generations. Thank you for reading this PR for Philippine Veterans Bank and hope you can support Ride for Valor 2023! :)