April 9, 2013: Araw ng Kagitingan Holiday

The April 9, 2013 was declared by the national government as a regular national holiday which marks the anniversary of the Fall of Bataan. The declaration was based upon the President’s Proclamation 459 issued on August 2012.

Related Article: 2013 Philippine National Holidays

The Philippines will be celebrating the 71st anniversary of one of the most memorable date in the history of the country who fought against foreign aggression.

According to the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) Handbook on Workers’ Statutory Monetary Benefits, employees “are entitled to at least 100% of his/her minimum pay” even if he/she did not report for work on April 9, 2013. For full details of the DOLE Handbook click here.

Here’s a brief history of the April 9 Araw ng Kagitingan Holiday:

In 1943, Filipino and American fighters in Bataan under the leadership of Major Gen. Edward P. King of the US Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) surrendered to the Japanese invaders. The Allied forces had been fighting in the Japanese for four months already prior to the Fall of Bataan, thousands of Filipino and American soldiers have been died already during that time.

Although the Fall of Bataan was a commemoration of Philippines surrender but historians considered the war in the Philippines as the only option for the Allied Forces to regroup in Australia and avenged a more tactical offensives against the Japanese. The delayed invasion of the Philippines was the main reason why the Japanese failed to advance to Australia and other Pacific territories.

Araw ng Kagitingan

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