Historical lessons from the Death March

Araw ng Kagitingan, formerly called "The Fall of Bataan" has been made positive by President Cory Aquino by renaming this day as The Day of Valor, in honor of the thousands of defenders who died trying to hold their lines against the Japanese Imperial Army.

- Atty. Josephus B. Jimenez

Today, we celebrate the 83rd anniversary of the Death March, which is a landmark historical event on the Filipinos' struggles for freedom, democracy and independence. Reminiscing the bitter memories of that event, we should learn how both America and Japan impacted adversely on the Filipinos' painful experiences as a nation.

The Philippines found itself caught in the crossfire on December 7, 1941, when Japan attacked the US military bases in Pearl Harbor. That treacherous attack killed no less than 2,008 sailors and injured 710 others. A total of 218 US Air Force soldiers were killed, 364 were wounded, while 109 Marines were killed and 69 wounded. Some 68 civilians were also killed and 35 wounded.

No less than 18 US warships were sunk, including five large battleships. It was a crime against humanity because there was no prior declaration of war. The Japanese invasion of the Philippines started forthwith on December 8, 1941, barely 10 hours after the Pearl Harbor attack. The Philippines had no conflict with Japan. We were only attacked because we were under the commonwealth. To hit the Philippines was equal to attacking America.