Mt. Samat National Shrine, Bataan Philippines

Sharing here photos of my weekend adventure in Mt. Samat, Bataan. Me and my girl friends from the office went on a road trip to Bataan yesterday to see the Mt. Samat National Shrine.

Actually, we are also attending the wedding of our old colleague Sheryl in Balanga, Bataan. But since the wedding is in the afternoon, we decided to visit this historical spot first.

Mount Samat is a mountain in the Town of Pilar, Province of Bataan, Republic of the Philippines that is the site of the Dambana ng Kagitingan or "Shrine of Valor".

Along with the island fortress of Corregidor, Mount Samat was the site of the most vicious battle against the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942 during the Battle of Bataan.

Suffering heavy losses against the Japanese all over Luzon, Filipino and American soldiers retreated to Bataan Peninsula to regroup for a last valiant but futile stand. This retreat to Bataan is part of a United States strategy known as War Plan Orange.



After the fierce battle lasting 3 days, 78,000 exhausted, sick and starving men under Major General Edward P. King surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942. It was, and still is, the single largest surrender of U.S. and Philippine Forces ever. These forces were then led on the Bataan Death March.



The mountain is now a war memorial built by Ferdinand Marcos a War Veteran itself in 1966. A huge white cross stands as a mute but eloquent reminder of the men who died there. It also acts as a tourist attraction with a war museum nearby that has a wide array of displays from paintings of the Philippine heroes to armaments used by the American, Filipino and Japanese forces during the heat of the battle.

There is an entrance fee of Php20.00 per person when you enter the park; and Php10.00 fee when you get up the white cross. There is an elevator that will bring you atop the cross. The view is really breath taking, you can feel the gentle and cold breeze and the clouds seemed to be within reach.

More Mt. Samat photos here.

Historical facts credits