The celebration is tied up with the 75th observance of Araw ng Kagitingan held every April 9, the day in 1942 when Bataan fell to the Japanese invaders.
An annual padjakan (bicycle race), the 12th this year, and the Bataan Freedom Run was held Sunday at the Karagatan Bay View peaks in Mariveles.
A Galing Trade Fair and Bataan Cooperatives’ and Entrepreneurs’ night open Monday at the Plaza Mayor in Balanga.
Students join a Bataan History quiz on Tuesday at the Vista Mall in Balanga City. Senior Citizens will have their night presenting folk dances and songs on Wednesday.
A Bataan seafood festival will show on Thursday at the Vista Mall the culinary expertise of chefs belonging to the association of hotel and restaurants in the province.
On Saturday, there will be a foot parade, parade of fl oats and tribute to World War II veterans at the Capitol grounds in Balanga.
All roads will lead to the Shrine of Valor in historic Mt. Samat on Sunday morning for the Araw ng Kagitingan commemoration where President Rodrigo Duterte will be the guest of honor and speaker.
In the afternoon of Sunday, there will be drum and lyre competitions of public elementary school children in Pilar town.
A fireworks display, described as the grandest pyrotechnics, in honor of the veteran soldiers, follow in the evening. The fireworks donated by a foreigner reportedly cost millions of pesos.
A 160-kilometer ultra- marathon, ultra-relay and bike tour from Mariveles to Capas in Tarlac conclude the activities.
The 160-km marathon and relay route retraces the infampus Death March that began April 10, 1942, a day after the United States Armed Forces in the Far East, composed of American and Filipino soldiers, surrendered because of the fall of Bataan.
Vicky Garcia, widow of late Rep. Enrique Garcia and mother of Gov. Albert Garcia, chairs the Bataan Tourism Council Foundation.
