Wazzup Pilipinas!
The Philippines celebrates the Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor on April 9. Every year, we honor and pay tribute to the Filipino and American soldiers who laid their lives for our country during World War II. We salute the thousands who have suffered and died defending our country in the historic “Bataan Death March.”
I am proud to have been born and raised in Bataan, in our humble home in Mariveles. Perhaps this is where I developed my love and appreciation for history. Perhaps this is where my passion for heroism grew.
Whenever we hear of the word HERO, we immediately think of bravery and courage, mainly because of the idea that a hero died for the sake of his/her country. Or, perhaps in the modern age, we imagine heroes to have capes, an x-ray vision or a Batmobile in order for them to save the day.
Who is a hero?
Today, being a hero does not only mean having to give up one’s life for the sake of another (although that is still heroism).