BALANGA, Bataan–In a bid to bring the youth closer to their roots and history through fun and unique ways, the Philippine Veterans Bank held the Bataan Freedom Run 2018 to honor heroes of the Death March Saturday night.
The festivities are in time for the 76th Year of the Bataan Death March and the Araw ng Kagitingan today (Monday). This also the Freedom Run’s fifth installment since the first starting gun fired off in 2014.
“Every year, we continue with our Bataan Death March Anniversary activities to reach out and share especially to the younger generation the heroism of both soldiers and civilians during the tumultuous times,” said Veterans Bank Corporate and Consumer Relations Division Head Mike-Villareal.
This year’s BFR top-billed a night of fun and surprises that featured a 42KM full marathon with a solo run; a solo with 10lbs rucksack run for civilian or police and military; a team run for three civilians; and a team with 20lbs rucksack run for military and police.
Apart from these, there was also a 21KM half marathon, a non-competitive 10KM and 5KM color fun run and 1KM color run for kids, while a golden retriever named Percy was crowned the sole champion–and participant–of the 1KM pet run that added to the night’s excitement.
Winners received cash prizes and medals, while finishers of the 42KM marathon had a finisher’s medal and a Bataan Freedom Run Finisher’s shirt. Proceeds from the BFR will be used for the restoration of Battle of Bataan markers.
The annual commemoration of the Bataan Death March Anniversary is not just a day of remembering, but a weeklong celebration in honor of the country’s WWII heroes. Since 2014, the Philippine Veterans Bank together with the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office, the Provincial Tourism of Bataan and other partners gather in Bataan for various activities that encourage participation of the veterans’ relatives and families, as well as civilians and the military.
Members of the Philippine Living History Society also reenacted some battle scenes in full battle gear and outfit to give the youthful crowd a glimpse of their history.
Earlier, the second Mariveles-San Fernando-Capas Freedom Trail was held where participants traced the entire route of the Death March.