21/02/2024
Parade for our heroes, Pampanga!!!
To our countrymen from the province of Pampanga, you are no strangers to gallantry!
Under Spanish rule, your birthplace was one of the first provinces to fight for our independence. Come the Second World War, courage ran through the veins of your ancestors proud and strong. Many of the fighters of the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), hailed from your land. During the Battle of Bataan, thousands of Pampangueños held the line until the eventual surrender of Allied Forces in April of 1942 that later led to the forcible death march of prisoners of war.
In the aftermath of the fall of Bataan, many Pampangueños joined the Hukbo ng Bayan Laban sa Hapon (Hukbalahap), or the “People’s Army Against Japan,” and continued the struggle against the Japanese.
The Huks also had fearless and skilled women warriors from Pampanga who even rose to the ranks and became commanding officers. Remedios Guintu Gomez-Paraiso was the daughter of the vice mayor of Mexico, Pampanga, who later became Kumader Liwayway. Simeona Punsalan-Tapang from San Simon, Pampanga became Kumander Guerrero, and later in her life was given a special citation by the Provincial Government of Pampanga for her contribution in attaining freedom for our country.
We invite all Pampangueños to join us and walk in the footsteps of our WWII heroes who suffered, died, and survived the Bataan Death March.
Philippine Veterans Bank (PVB), in partnership with Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) and the Department of National Defense (DND), will host Freedom March 2024, a 160-KM commemorative walk to honor the heroes of World War II. The march will start at Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan, all the way to San Fernando Pampanga, and end at Capas National Shrine in Tarlac.
Registration is FREE and is open until February 29, 2024. Pre-registration is required and you may scan the QR code or click this link: https://forms.gle/w6BJTdyY7fA64LCV8.
For group registration, please email: [email protected].
For shorter routes, you may plan your own segment and start and end from and to any of the following pit stop locations indicated below, with corresponding dates and time.
LOCATION TIME DATE
KM Zero (START)
Mariveles Park (Beside Jollibee) 12:01AM March 16, 2024
KM 10
Cemetery along Roman Super Highway 2:00AM March 16, 2024
KM 20
After Limay Brige 4:00AM March 16, 2024
KM 30
Beside Puting Buhangin Elementary School 6:00AM March 16, 2024
KM 44
Inside Plaza Balanga 10:00AM March 16, 2024
KM 50
After Calaylayan Bridge before Abucay Municipal Hall 4:00PM March 16, 2024
KM 60
Infront of INC. Orani Bataan 7:00PM March 16, 2024
KM 68
Inside Dinalupihan First Line of Defense 1:00AM March 17, 2024
KM 80
After RBL Vulcanizing Shop 3:00AM March 17, 2024
KM 90
Infront of Louis and Martini Fashion Hub 5:00AM March 17, 2024
KM 102
Inside Capitol Bldg 7:24AM March 17, 2024
KM 141
Capas People’s Park 4:00PM March 17, 2024
KM 160 (END)
Capas National Shrine 6:00PM March 17, 2024
See you there!
