As the Philippines marked Araw ng Kagitingan on Tuesday, celebrating the fallen heroes of Bataan during World War II, some chose to honor more recent defenders of the country.

Families and loved ones visited the graves of uniformed personnel at the Libingan ng mga Bayani in Taguig to remember fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters buried there who have served the Philippines. 

The visitors paid no mind to the heat as they laid flowers and lit candles by the simple white cross in the cemetery. The crosses while simple and uniform no doubt seem larger than life to the ones left behind as testaments to their service to the country.