The Cross on the Mountaintop
Its place in the pecking order of prominent national landmarks is not as high as the likes of Rizal Park, Quezon Circle, and the Banaue Rice Terrace. But when it comes to historical significance, the Dambana ng Kagitingan (The Shrine of Valor) in Bataan towers above its counterparts.
Located at the summit of Mt. Samat in Pilar, Bataan (4 hours from Metro Manila), the monument serves as a memorial to all the brave Filipino and American soldiers who gallantly fought against invading Japanese troops in what history shall forever call “The Battle of Bataan” during World War II.
The Dambana ng Kagitingan was completed and inaugurated in 1970 and it is comprised of two distinct parts: the Memorial Cross and the Colonnade.
Rising at a height of 300 feet from its base (1,820 feet above sea level), the Memorial Cross is a colossal structure made up from steel and reinforced concrete, with a viewing deck found at the arms of the cross, where you can reach through a lift that gets you there in 30 seconds. Should you brave the elevator ride to the viewing deck, it offers a breathtaking view of Bataan, Corregidor Island, Manila Bay, and further in the distance, Mt. Pinatubo.
The Colonnade, on the other hand, is a marble structure with an altar, an esplanade, and a museum. Several historical representations can be found inside and around the Colonnade including bronze insignias, statues, and inscriptions of the “Battle of Bataan”.
Engraved on one of the Colonnade’s walls is a message that best describes the true symbolism of the Dambana ng Kagitingan.
The message reads:
“On this ground gallant men chose to die rather than surrender.
From all corners of the Philippines they came, youthful and brave, to make their last stand in Bataan against an implacable enemy which had marched through Asia. What transpired was a ferocious combat between raw, ill-equipped recruits and seasoned well-armed troops.
On these tablets is recorded the epic, the truly unifying experience, that was Bataan. Let all who read this take pride in the courage of our race.”
The way to the Cross from the Colonnade involves climbing up a tiring zigzagging footpath on the mountain slope, paved with bloodstones from Corregidor.
(Corregidor, for those who don’t know, was the last stop of the notorious “Bataan Death March”)
On a place like this, it's easy to get caught up in the spectacular scenery. After all, you're on top of a mountain and the whole world is beneath you. In spite of that, it's still a good idea to have a sense of perspective on why that huge cross is standing there in the first place.
So while we gush over and throw roses at the shrines of people like Jose Rizal and Manuel Quezon, let’s not forget all those soldiers in Bataan who valiantly defended our freedom and died in battle for the sake of their motherland.
At the very least, we owe their monument a visit.
