Mayor Louise Gabriel del Rosario said the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority has budgeted the building of the shrine for P2.5 million.
“Maliit lang na halaga pero ang maganda recognized na kami as historical shrine. Its upkeep will have a yearly fund,” the young mayor said.
NHCP has also recognized last March as historical shrine the Zero Kilometer marker in Mariveles, Bataan
Carminda Arevalo, NHCP deputy executive director, said there were more than 70,000 Filipino and American soldiers in Bataan at the time of its surrender on April 9, 1942.
She said that Major General Edward King, then commander of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East, decided to surrender to prevent further slaughter of his remaining troops in the Bataan peninsula.
Filipino and American soldiers started the Death March in Mariveles, Bataan on April 10, 1942 and those in Bagac on April 11. The two groups met in Pilar, Bataan where they walked to San Fernando, Pampanga and then herded in overcrowded bagon to Capas, Tarlac.
Thousands died in the Death march.
“Ang pagmamahal sa bayan at kabayanihan ng mga nasawi sa Death March ay magsilbing hamon sana sa kasalukuyang henerasyon. Pwedeng matumbasan ang kabayanihan hindi lang sa pagbubuwis ng buhay kundi sa mga simpling paraan sa araw-araw,” del Rosario said.
The mayor said that the right way of disposing garbage, studying to finish college, helping the poor and the needy, following rules and regulations, among some others are heroic deeds.
The unveiling of the marker was under a fi esta atmosphere. A local marching band played as young and pretty majorettes displayed their dancing skills. The Las Casas Filipinas de Acuzar dance troupe presented a “tinikling” dance number.
A group of youngsters presented an interpretative dance number about the Death March.
