Jamaine Punzalan

Article (news)

Eon Sanchez

ABS-CBN News

<p>MANILA — Hundreds gathered inside the walled city of Intramuros on Thursday as the country marked the 84th anniversary of Araw ng Kagitingan, a national day of remembrance for the Fall of Bataan and the tens of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers forced into the brutal Death March during World War II.</p><p>Before sunrise, members of the NCR Regional Community Defense Group of the Philippine Army Reserve Command assembled at Plazuela de Santa Isabel for the Lakad-Kalayaan and wreath-laying ceremony at the Memorare–Manila 1945 Monument, a memorial dedicated to the civilians and defenders killed during the Battle of Manila.</p><p>More than 20 ROTC units from universities across Metro Manila joined the commemoration.</p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=305&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1273499950854267%2F&amp;show_text=true&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="420" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe> </span></div><p>Reserve Command chief MGen. Ronald Jess S. Alcudia underscored the continuing role of reservists in national readiness despite concerns raised by some groups regarding ROTC.</p><p>“Ang role ng ating reserve command is to develop our citizen army which is our reserve force which will be a base for expansion of the armed forces,” Alcudia said. </p><p>“In times of national emergency… ang trabaho ng ating reserve force is to focus on the mission of building the readiness for any contingency.”</p><p>He added that volunteerism remains central to reserve service.</p><p>“Ang ginagawa namin ngayon is how can we do our activities without being a burden to our reservist,” he said. </p><p>He said the number of reservists continues to grow largely through the ROTC and the National Service Reserve Corps.</p><p>“We also need to be ready for emergency services, disasters, and other contingencies… sana ang hindi mawala doon yung national service,&quot; he added. </p><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1242472157613034%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>Among those honored during the ceremony were World War II veterans, including retired Marines 2nd Lt. Roberto C. Fernandez, now NCR president of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines (VFP).</div><p>Fernandez said the lessons of war remain vital as the country confronts present-day challenges.</p><p>“Being a retiree from the Armed Forces of the Philippines ay talagang involved kami rito sa kapayapaan, sa kaligtasan ng ating mga mamamayang Pilipino at ating bansa,” he said.</p><p>“For the kabataan ngayon… wag nilang kalimutan ang ating mga ninuno, lalo na yung mga World War II veterans… dahil kung wala sila, wala tayong tinatamasa na freedom ngayon bilang Pilipino.”</p><p>On whether the country can weather the crises it faces, Fernandez said, “Wala namang problema na walang solusyon… Kailangan na magmasid lang tayo in case na may mangyari sa atin, then we are prepared.”</p><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/4/9/marcos-jr-urges-filipinos-to-uphold-pakikipagkapwa-amid-economic-challenges-0942">Marcos Jr. urges Filipinos to uphold ‘pakikipagkapwa’ amid economic challenges</a></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&amp;href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Freel%2F1449681253204293%2F&amp;show_text=false&amp;width=560&amp;t=0" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span>To cap the program, the Republica Filipinas Reenactment Group staged a live reenactment of clashes between Japanese forces and Filipino and American troops, drawing crowds of families, students, and tourists who watched the scenes of World War II battles unfold against the historic backdrop of Intramuros.</div><p>The annual commemoration served not only as a tribute to the heroism of Filipino defenders but also as a reminder of the sacrifices that secured the country’s freedom—an inheritance that today’s generation, organizers said, must continue to protect.</p><div><br style="caret-color:rgb(0, 0, 0);color:rgb(0, 0, 0)"/></div>

<p>Hundreds gathered in Intramuros on Thursday as the country marked the 84th anniversary of Araw ng Kagitingan, a national day of remembrance for the Fall of Bataan and the tens of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers forced into the brutal Death March during World War II.</p>

Hundreds gathered in Intramuros on Thursday as the country marked the 84th anniversary of Araw ng Kagitingan, a national day of remembrance for the Fall of Bataan and the tens of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers forced into the brutal Death March during World War II.

Intramuros commemorates Araw ng Kagitingan with wreath rites, WWII reenactment

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Intramuros commemorates Araw ng Kagitingan with wreath rites, WWII reenactment

Eon Sanchez,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 09, 2026 11:03 AM PHT

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Updated April 09, 2026 11:13 AM PHT

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Intramuros

Araw ng Kagitingan

Day of Valor

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