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, TarlacNote 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.
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. =)
ReplyDeleteThis is a 'must see' place for history students!
ReplyDeletelagi ko nadadaanan to ata dati. kaso lagi din sarado un gate kaya d ako nakakapasok...
ReplyDeletedi pa ako nakapunta dito. maybe in the next few months.
ReplyDeletebtw pre, i posted a reply to your comment at my photoblog re silverlens photographer talks. check it from there.
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
ReplyDeleteWow, this is amazing. Well, many of us are rather oblivious to the histories of our own country. It's the same over here.
ReplyDeleteBut I'd love to visit there someday!
nadadaanan ko lang ang tarlac pag napunta ko ng baguio, pero di ko pa siya napupuntahan para ma explore... sana one of these days... :)
ReplyDeletei haven't even been to that place. hehehe ;p
ReplyDeleteNakikita 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
ReplyDeleteMy mom was born in Bataan. I have never been there though. I love all the history though and would like to go!
ReplyDeleteThanks 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.
ReplyDeleteDespite your shaky hands, the shot looks good and clouds make it more dramatic!
ReplyDeleteIts 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!
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!
ReplyDeleteLooks like a pretty special place to me!
ReplyDeleteibang klase... dramatic!
ReplyDeleteI think it's still a good shot.
ReplyDeleteTwo of my grandfathers walked on the death march. I really should visit the shrine.
ReplyDeleteThis shrine is certainly worth visiting. I have been there several times...
ReplyDeleteI'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.
ReplyDeleteFamily 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?
ReplyDeleteThank you for the picture. It is greatly appreciated.
anonymous 1, i will re-visit the monument again if i have the time.
ReplyDeleteanonymous2, i don't know of any internet page for it will check if there are
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.
ReplyDeleteThe name is CPL Clinton A Bliss.
Thank you.
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"
ReplyDelete