Every April 9, the Philippines observes Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor), the national commemoration of the fall of Bataan during World War II. On April 9, 1942, after three months of fighting, the Filipino and American forces on the Bataan Peninsula surrendered, beginning the infamous Bataan Death March. The center of the annual commemoration is the Mount Samat National Shrine (Dambana ng Kagitingan) in Pilar, Bataan, where a giant memorial cross rises above the battlefield. Veterans, officials, and families gather there each year for wreath-laying ceremonies during Philippine Veterans Week. These photos were taken during the 2010 observance, honoring the courage and sacrifice of the soldiers who defended Bataan.
See also: Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)
