Earth Hour Philippines

 Please support the World Wildlife Fund-Philippines’ Earth Hour.Turn off our non-essential lights for one 1hour, 8:30pm-9:30pm =)

A Beautiful Sunshine

I belong in an organization of “The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints” as a Single Adult. We decided to have an activity in a peaceful place where we can appreciate the creation of God. In this place,
aside for being perfect we are also reminded how important to know our own History.

The Death March of Flipino and American Prisoners of war from Mariveles, and Bagac to Camp O”      Donnell, Capas, Tarlac April 1942.

A Brief History

 

       The war came to the Philippines the same day it came to Hawaii and in the same manner – a surprise air attack. In the case of the Philippines, however, this initial strike was followed by a full-scale invasion of the main island of Luzon three days later. By early January, the American and Filipino defenders were forced to retreat to a slim defensive position on the island's western Bataan Peninsula

       American prisoners, some with their hands, behind their backs, get a brief respite during the march.

      The American and Filipino forces fought from an untenable position until formally surrendering to the Japanese on April 9. The Japanese immediately began to march some 76,000 prisoners (12,000 Americans, the remainder Filipinos) northward into captivity along a route of death. When three American officers escaped a year later, the world learned of the unspeakable atrocities suffered along the 60-mile journey that became known as the Bataan Death March.

       Japanese butchery, disease, exposure to the blazing sun, lack of food, and lack of water took the lives of approximately 5,200 Americans along the way. Many prisoners were bayoneted, shot, beheaded or just left to die on the side of the road. "A Japanese soldier took my canteen, gave the water to a horse, and threw the canteen away," reported one escapee. "The stronger were not permitted to help the weaker. We then would hear shots behind us." The Japanese forced the prisoners to sit for hours in the hot sun without water. "Many of us went crazy and several died."

       The ordeal lasted five days for some and up to twelve days for others. Although the Japanese were unprepared for the large number of prisoners in their care, the root of the brutality lay in the Japanese attitude that a soldier should die before surrender. A warrior's surrender meant the forfeiture of all rights to treatment as a human being.

      After the war, the finger of blame pointed to General Masaharu Homma, commander of the Japanese troops in the Philippines. Tried for war crimes, he was convicted and executed by a firing squad on April 3, 1946.

To all my friends,

        

       Different circumstances come in our life every day. Whether good or bad, memorable or not, we need to accept it in either way and be thankful that we experienced those things because that is the only time that we can realize how amazing life is. I know sometimes it’s really hard for us to believe if why this is happening. All I can say is…Hey! We’re HUMANS and those experiences are definitely normal for us. So cheer up my friend and keep moving forward! Like what I did many times before, even until now. =)

                                  Guess what?  I am a secret keeper and an adviser now. He he