Day of Valor

Day of Valor, known in Filipino as Araw ng Kagitingan, is observed annually in the Philippines on April 9. In 2026, it falls on Thursday, April 9. The national holiday commemorates the courage and sacrifice of Filipino and American soldiers who defended the Bataan Peninsula during World War II and honors all Filipino veterans who served in times of war and national crisis.

The date recalls the surrender of the Bataan defense forces to the Japanese Imperial Army on April 9, 1942. The surrender was followed by the brutal Bataan Death March, during which tens of thousands of exhausted prisoners of war were forced to travel under harsh conditions; many died from disease, hunger, abuse, and exhaustion. Originally associated with Bataan Day, the observance developed into a broader national commemoration of valor, patriotism, military service, and the defense of Philippine freedom. The Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan, is one of the country’s most important memorial sites connected with the holiday.

Day of Valor is marked by solemn flag-raising ceremonies, wreath-laying events, military honors, speeches, religious services, and tributes to World War II veterans and their families. National and local government officials, the Armed Forces of the Philippines, veterans’ organizations, students, and civic groups commonly participate. Memorial ceremonies are especially significant at the Shrine of Valor on Mount Samat and at other war memorials, cemeteries, and historic sites throughout the country.

Schools and cultural institutions often organize history lessons, exhibitions, documentary screenings, essay contests, and storytelling programs about the Bataan campaign and the Death March. Unlike more festive Philippine holidays, Araw ng Kagitingan has no single required food or household ritual; families may visit memorials, attend commemorative programs, or spend time with relatives who preserve wartime memories. Appropriate greetings include “Maligayang Araw ng Kagitingan,” meaning “Happy Day of Valor,” although respectful expressions such as “We honor the bravery and sacrifice of our heroes” are often more suitable for this solemn occasion.