By Brian Jules Campued
Ever wondered what those yellow obelisks you see on the side of the road with numbers and letters engraved on them, like some strange stone markings? Called kilometer markers, these road signs inform passersby of the distance from Luneta in Manila to the location of the marker as well as to the next town, helping those who might be lost in some unfamiliar place.
However, kilometer markers are different in Bataan, where one of the most tragic events in Philippine history transpired in April 1942 during the early stages of World War II. More than 70,000 Filipino and American prisoners of war were forced by the Japanese military to walk some 140 kilometers from Mariveles and Bagac to Capas in Tarlac—enduring the blistering heat of hell on earth.
The province abounds with these historical landmarks—painted in white—reminding us of the sacrifices of Filipino soldiers along with their American counterparts when Bataan “fell” on April 9. Kilometer Death March markers indicate how far the soldiers have traveled from the starting point.
There are a total of 138 markers to be seen along the trail of the Death March, spanning the provinces of Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac. Two Zero Kilometer Death March monuments stand in Mariveles and Bagac, depicting the separate spots where different batches of captives began their long walk.
Thousands collapsed and died on the way—they were beaten, shot, bayoneted, and beheaded by Japanese soldiers. After marching north to San Fernando in Pampanga, the prisoners were jammed into unsanitary boxcars and taken by rail farther north to Capas. From there, they walked again to the detention facility at Camp O’Donnell, where more died of starvation and disease.
More than pieces of erected stones showing bits of our tragic past, these markers aim to etch the gallantry of our countrymen in the minds of every Filipino, lest we forget our history. We owe it to them to continue to commemorate what they went through, honor the fallen, and celebrate the lives of the few remaining veterans who lived to tell the tale.
On Philippine Veterans Week and this 82nd Day of Valor, or Araw ng Kagitingan, let’s pay tribute to the heroes who showed bravery for our nation. – avds
