UP prof: ‘Death March’ not a defeat for Filipinos

The infamous Death March that gave Allied soldiers a taste of bitter cruelty at the hands of Japanese invaders should not be viewed as a historic moment of defeat but a lesson that armed conflicts should be resolved more quickly to prevent such atrocities from occurring again.

Prof. Jaime Veneracion, head of the University of the Philippines History Department and founder of the Asosasyon ng mga Dalubhasang may Hilig at Interes sa Kasaysayan (ADHIKA), said in this light, the observance of one of the darkest moments of the Second World War would take on a new meaning. 

"We should not remember the Death March as a moment of defeat for the Filipinos but rather a moment to reflect and understand how we were able to survive the brutality of the Japanese imperial forces in the face of certain death," Veneracion told The STAR in Filipino in an interview during the last leg of the "Lakbyke Mabuhay Tour 2006" in Orani, Bataan yesterday.

In fact, according to Veneracion, the Death March would not have occurred were it not for the declaration made by Allied forces commander Gen. Edward King who surrendered the troops to Japanese forces on April 9, 1942, after the fall of Bataan and Corregidor.

"Ang mga Pilipinong sundalo nga ayaw sumuko noong mga panahong iyon (The Filipino soldiers, in fact, vowed to carry on the fight and never surrender during those dark days)," he said.

Veneracion noted the annual commemoration of the Death March is usually an emotional moment for most war veterans.

Many of them recall surviving the grueling trek from Mariveles town to San Fernando, Pampanga where some 70,000 allied troops were herded into box cars to Camp O’ Donnell in Capas, Tarlac.

"Madamdamin pa para sa kanila dahil marami sa kanila ay buhay pa hanggang ngayon (It was an emotional ordeal for all of them since they cannot really comprehend how they were able to survive up to now). And it is from their stories of heroism and patriotism that we should take our lessons," Veneracion said.

He said the Death March highlighted the tenacity and bravery of the Filipino soldier in the face of a superior adversary.

"And we should give importance to and credit the profiles of courage displayed by our Filipino soldiers and their grace under pressure. I think we should give emphasis to the courage displayed by our Filipino veterans and learn from them," Veneracion added.

He said the bitter lessons on the cruelty of war should inspire Filipinos to promote a culture of peace instead of conflict.

"War is a complicated historical event, and we should always find a way not to get ourselves involved in a war, because under such condition, everybody suffers. Wala namang nananalo sa giyera (Nobody emerges a winner in a war)," he said.

To change the way people view the Death March, Veneracion said it should be commemorated to promote peace and to refrain from participating in armed conflicts.

As the nation pays tribute to the fallen soldiers who defended the country’s democracy and freedom, the family and friends of another Bataan hero, the late Maj. Gen. Guillermo Francisco, mark his 30th death anniversary.

Francisco was the second highest ranking Filipino officer in the Allied Forces that defended Bataan and Corregidor from the Japanese invaders.

He was the chief of the Philippine Constabulary during the outbreak of the war.

Francisco was popularly known as the commander of "Bataan’s Own," a regular division of the Philippine Army that fought alongside the beleaguered American troops in defending Bataan and Corregidor.

Francisco was also the highest ranking Filipino officer to have survived the Death March and went to become a real estate developer in Novaliches and Baguio City after the war until he died on April 7, 1976.