Sunday, April 06, 2008 San Fernando to lead Death March commemoration
CITY OF SAN FERNANDO -- As the nation celebrates Bataan Day, the City Government of San Fernando will lead activities to remember and honor the valiant men who were part of the infamous Death March, 66 years ago.
San Fernando Mayor Oscar Rodriguez said the commemoration will be held from April 7 to 9, centering on the historic San Fernando Train Station in Barangay Sto. Niño, San Fernando City.
Actively participated in by the Multi-Sectoral Governance Council (MSGC) in San Fernando, the celebration will start with Clean-Up Day on April 7 on which various groups will help in cleaning up the environs of the train station in preparation for Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9.
Next day, there will be a painting contest among the city's youth at the train station site from 8 a.m. to 12 noon.
A representative of war veterans will give a testimonial as an inspiration to all contestants who will interpret through their art the theme, "Rilis Tren ning San Fernando, Dalan ning Kalayang Pilipinu".
On April 9, the program will be a joint tribute of the City Government and San Fernando Runners Unlimited, Inc. (Safer-Run).
The oldest running group in Pampanga, Safer-Run traces each year the 97-km road once taken by the thousands of Filipino and American prisoners of war who were forced by the Japanese soldiers to march to the prison camp in Capas, Tarlac following the fall of Bataan.
The program will start at 9 a.m. with the ceremonial transfer of torch to Mayor Rodriguez by Safer-Run members at the end of their yearly ultra-marathon from Mariveles, Bataan. This will take place at the Heroes Hall in Barangay San Juan.
From there, tribute participants will "Walk with the Heroes" to the San Fernando Train Station where the "Apoy ng Katapangan" will be lit and wreaths will be laid at the Death March Marker. Veterans of World War II will then give testimonials.
In giving annual prominence to Araw ng Kagitingan, the City Government continues to instill in Fernandinos appreciation of the past and thereby inspire pride of culture and heritage especially among the youth.
Last year, the Association of Tourism Officers of the Philippines awarded the city for its "Preserving Heritage for Progress" program that ensures the protection and promotion of the city's priceless architectural heritage and restoring and preserving the same for the benefit of the future generation of Fernandinos and the Filipino people. (ABL)
