Backpacking Philippines: Tarlac: Capas National Shrine (Camp O'Donnell)

Tarlac: Capas National Shrine (Camp O'Donnell)

After leaving Sta Juliana, Capas, Tarlac, (after trekking down the slopes of Mt. Pinatubo) we again passed by the Capas National Shrine, unknown to my companions, which used to be part of Camp O'Donnell: the final destination of the survivors of the infamous Death March of the Second World War.

I was thinking of not posting this picture since it's not that clear but again, for photojournalistic purposes, I posted it here. I wasn't able to get a better picture owing to the gray clouds providing not so good lighting and mostly my trekking mates opted not to get out of the van to even take pictures either they're tired or just plain indifferent/oblivious to history. The shot that you see here taken with my hand out of the window slightly skewed and blurred.

The infamous Bataan Death March (バターン死の行進) began shortly after the fall of Bataan peninsula on April 9, 1942 where Filipino and American POWs were forced to march from Bataan to San Fernando, Pampanga (where they're herded into suffocating trains) then marched again upon arrival in Capas, Tarlac

Note that survivors of the Fall of Corregidor on May 6, 1942 did not participate in the Death March like what my officemates were saying. The Death March lasted a few days before the Rock fell to the Japanese.

Capas National Shrine is actually the former internment camp of Camp O'Donnell and has a 70 meter obelisk, a wall where names of the Filipinos and Americans who died there is listed and a small monument by the Battling Bastards of Bataan.

This place requires a re-visit by the tutubi in the future for him to get up close to the historic place most Filipinos don't even hear of or taken for granted.

How to get to Capas, Tarlac:

Capas National Shrine is along the national highway in Capas, Tarlac. There's a small entrance fee of PhP5.00.

Labels: Central Luzon, History, Monuments, Tarlac, World War II

posted by GingGoy @ 11:41 PM,

23 Comments:

At Jun 26, 2007, 6:26:00 AM, carlotta1924 said...: ww2 is one of my interests but i don't get to see much of the places that played an important role during that period. should try to go there soon. =)
At Jun 26, 2007, 11:49:00 AM, Anonymous said...: This is a 'must see' place for history students!
At Jun 26, 2007, 12:18:00 PM, - said...: lagi ko nadadaanan to ata dati. kaso lagi din sarado un gate kaya d ako nakakapasok...
At Jun 26, 2007, 1:43:00 PM, Anonymous said...: di pa ako nakapunta dito. maybe in the next few months.

btw pre, i posted a reply to your comment at my photoblog re silverlens photographer talks. check it from there.
At Jun 27, 2007, 2:24:00 AM, Anonymous said...: for the past 25 years or so, me and family would pass this monument on our way to tarlac, but have not really stopped to take a look. thanks, now i will--part of historical tour
At Jun 27, 2007, 1:44:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Wow, this is amazing. Well, many of us are rather oblivious to the histories of our own country. It's the same over here.

But I'd love to visit there someday!
At Jun 27, 2007, 4:05:00 PM, Anonymous said...: nadadaanan ko lang ang tarlac pag napunta ko ng baguio, pero di ko pa siya napupuntahan para ma explore... sana one of these days... :)
At Jun 27, 2007, 6:41:00 PM, tin-tin said...: i haven't even been to that place. hehehe ;p
At Jun 27, 2007, 10:52:00 PM, Anonymous said...: Nakikita ko nga tong shrine na ito passing by the place ut never really got the chance to actually go down there and inspect the place. Grabe, layo din inabot ng march nila
At Jun 28, 2007, 2:18:00 AM, Rochelle said...: My mom was born in Bataan. I have never been there though. I love all the history though and would like to go!
At Jun 28, 2007, 9:42:00 AM, NOYPETES said...: Thanks for sharing your photos and info on the Bataan Death March and shrine. It is a reminder of the past struggles of our noble countrymen who fought and shed blood for our freedom today. Thanks for visiting my site. I like your Tutubi and alibata SigPic.
At Jun 28, 2007, 6:09:00 PM, Gypsy said...: Despite your shaky hands, the shot looks good and clouds make it more dramatic!

Its a pity not many people now about Camp O'Donnell. We need to always revisit history and learn from the past...

Thanks for dropping by!
At Jun 28, 2007, 11:42:00 PM, Anonymous said...: wow! ganda naman nito! sayang we missed this when we went to mt.pinatubo. we saw this on our way home, pro we're so knackered we did not stop. ang ganda pala! pfft!
At Jun 29, 2007, 2:57:00 AM, pieterbie said...: Looks like a pretty special place to me!
At Jun 29, 2007, 9:06:00 AM, Marco said...: ibang klase... dramatic!
At Jun 29, 2007, 9:49:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I think it's still a good shot.
At Jun 29, 2007, 11:46:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Two of my grandfathers walked on the death march. I really should visit the shrine.
At Jul 6, 2007, 4:15:00 PM, Richard said...: This shrine is certainly worth visiting. I have been there several times...
At Apr 14, 2008, 2:04:00 AM, Anonymous said...: I've been there lot of time during the construction of that Wall Of Heroes in Capas National Shrine... Mapakagandang lugar para pasyalan at alalahanin ang ating tunay na mga bayani... and I can't explain how proud am I to be the one who engraved those 60,000 heroes names and the center image of that two Struggling Filipino Soldiers carrying our National Flag.
At Jul 18, 2008, 6:32:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Family records show that my uncle, Clinton Andrew Bliss, died at Camp O'Donnell on 31 May 1942. Since I probably never will be able to see the shrine in person, is there somewhere that the names and/or pictures of the Wall of Heroes are posted on the Internet?
Thank you for the picture. It is greatly appreciated.
At Jul 18, 2008, 10:25:00 PM, GingGoy said...: anonymous 1, i will re-visit the monument again if i have the time.

anonymous2, i don't know of any internet page for it will check if there are
At Aug 13, 2008, 5:06:00 AM, Anonymous said...: Is there anyone who will be visiting the monument in the near future and could do a tracing of a name? I am working on a family tree and that would be a wonderful addition to it. Unfortunately, I know I will never be able to see it in person.
The name is CPL Clinton A Bliss.
Thank you.
At Aug 13, 2008, 9:50:00 PM, GingGoy said...: denise, i intend to visit the shrine again one of these days. I forgot to just last month when I went to Pangasinan. Will try to take pictures like the high resolution pictures I took of pangatian shrine in cabanatuan city, the site of former concentration camp and witness to a daring rescue of American POWs made into a book "Ghost Soldiers" and a Holliwood movie "The Great Raid"

Tarlac: Capas National Shrine (Camp O'Donnell)

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