Ian Alacer, event director, said a big bulk of participants comes from the Philippine Army with 160 volunteers, 50 from the Philippine Air Force, 20 from Vanguard ROTC, 50 from Quezon City Army Reserve and the rest from the 1st Bataan Army Reserve.
The two-day Freedom March will start on March 24, 2018 at the Death March Kilometer 0 marker in Mariveles, Bataan and ends in Capas, Tarlac or a distance of 160 kilometers.
The Freedom Relay and Ride for Valor follow on March 25.
These activities, started five years ago, are sponsored by the Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB). Mike Villa-Real, PVB vice-president, said proceeds go to the maintenance and rehabilitation of 100 Death March markers in Bataan, 31 in Pampanga and seven in Tarlac.
The Filipino–merican Memorial (FAME) with Richard Hudson as vice-president maintains the markers.
The Freedom Trail hopes to instill in the minds of the youth the sacrifi ces of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II and the infamous Death March where thousands died, Villa-Real said.
The Death March started after Bataan fell on April 9, 1942 from two points – Mariveles on April 10 and Bagac on April 11.
The prisoners met in Pilar town and marched to San Fernando, Pampanga and to Capas.
The observance of the 76th Araw ng Kagitingan was set from March 24 to April 9 which is celebrated by the locals as Bataan Day.
Vicky Garcia, mother of Gov. Albert Garcia, chair of the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation, said they have lined up various day-to-day activities until the culmination of the Araw ng Kagitingan rites on April 9 at the Shrine of Valor in Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan where President Duterte is expected to attend.
Among the activities aside from the Freedom Trail are Padyakan sa Bataan, Galing Bataan Trade Fair, History Quiz, Parade of Floats, Foot parade, Parangal sa mga Beterano ng Bataan, drum and lyre competition and concert of the Aeta Koro Bangkal Magbikin
“Nais nating hindi malimutan ng mga kabataan ang kabayanihan ng ating mga sundalong Filipino na nakipaglaban ng husto para sa ating kalayaan,”
Vicky, wife of the late Gov. Enrique Garcia said. Villa-Real said that on record, there are only about 5,000 living World War II veterans in the country.
