Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor)

Whenever we go to Zambales, I always see that towering cross on top of the mountain on the side of Bataan.  It has never registered to me that it has a national significance.  All I was told was that was Mt. Samat and that was it.  I have never researched about it. I was curious, yes, but not that curious of really having to spend time reading something about it.

On separate ocassions, my mother and sister went with a group of Catholic ladies which was part of their church outing.  I thought, maybe, that was a pilgrimage of some sort. I have never inquired from them any deeper about what was it all about and their experience of going there.  When Dennis came home for a vacation, we have scheduled a trip to Corregidor.  We also went to Mariveles, Bataan to see for ourselves the 0 marker where the Death March has commenced. Actually, I learned that the death march had two start off points.

His interest about history has stirred my curiosity and having gone places of historical significance has educated me a lot. Going to Mt. Samat was not part of our itinerary, however, since we have seen the places that have a historical significance about World War II, we decided to go there, as well. As we approached the town of Pilar in Bataan, we have seen the marker of the "Dambana ng Kagitingan" which ushered us to a winding road going to the mountain. As we reached the summit, we were welcomed indeed, by the towering cross.

 

 

You have to climb several steps for you to reach the summit. But before you go further, you would approach the flagpole and the colonnade (wiki/Mount_Samat_National_Shrine).  You will also find an altar at the middle of the colonnade with sculptures on the walls depicting the war.  On one part of the wall is an inscription of the narrative of the Battle of Bataan.  Behind the colonnade is a cemented footpath which leads you to the memorial cross.

We reached Mt. Samat at noon and the door to lift and the viewing gallery was closed.  We just contented ourselves taking pictures of the majestic cross and the sculptures of historical figures and important events on the walls of the cross.(flicker/photos/)

 

 

The essence of the "Shrine of Valor" or "Dambana ng Kagitingan" is not on what you actually see, physically, but the memory of those fallen heroes who were instrumental to our independence as  country.