And when the world shall wake again
From grim decay to growth and beauty,
Let no one ever know my pain,
But I have done my humble duty.
During the 1st 160km Bataan Death March Ultra, I wasn't able to reach Camp O' Donnell and the Capas National Shrine. We decided to pass by the shrine on our way to Sta. Juliana.
From grim decay to growth and beauty,
Let no one ever know my pain,
But I have done my humble duty.
During the 1st 160km Bataan Death March Ultra, I wasn't able to reach Camp O' Donnell and the Capas National Shrine. We decided to pass by the shrine on our way to Sta. Juliana.
The Capas National Shrine (Paggunita Sa Capas) in Barangay Navy Capas, Tarlac was built as a memorial to the Filipino and American soldiers who died at Camp O'Donnell at the end of the Bataan Death March. This is significant site related to Veterans' Day in the Philippines (Araw ng Kagitingan), every 9 April, commemorates the surrender of the combined US and Philippine forces to the Japanese in 1942.
The area where the Bataan Death March ended was proclaimed by President Corazon Aquino as Capas National Shrine on 7 December 1991. The shrine encompasses 54 hectares of parkland, 35 hectares of which have been planted with rows of trees to represent each of the deceased.
The area where the Bataan Death March ended was proclaimed by President Corazon Aquino as Capas National Shrine on 7 December 1991. The shrine encompasses 54 hectares of parkland, 35 hectares of which have been planted with rows of trees to represent each of the deceased.
On 9 April 2003, a new memorial wall and obelisk was unveiled. The 70-meter obelisk towers above the grounds of the former interment camp. The obelisk is surrounded by a three segment, black marble wall engraved with the names of the Filipinos and Americans known to have died during the Death march. There are statistics about the total numbers of prisoners and deaths, together with poems for peace.
The Bataan Death March “ Martsa ng Kamatayan sa Bataan which began on April 9, 1942, was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japannese Army of approximately 2,500–10,000 Filipino and 100-650 American prisoners of war died before they could reach their destination at Camp O'Donnell. The march went from Mariveles, Bataan, to San Fernando, Pampanga. From San Fernando, survivors were loaded to a box train and they were brought to Camp O'Donell in Capas, Tarlac.
Sad to say, the place is not well kept. This is a national shrine and a historical place where a lot of lives were lost.
To all BDM160km Ultra Runners good luck, respect the race and respect the memory of our brave soldiers.
To all BDM160km Ultra Runners good luck, respect the race and respect the memory of our brave soldiers.