Mt. Samat National Shrine: Visiting a Memorial and Museum in Bataan

 

It was just a few days after National Heroes' Day when we went up to Mt. Samat to visit the "Dambana ng Kagitingan", a memorial shrine and museum dedicated to honoring and remembering the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers who fought the Japanese imperial army in World War II.   My husband remembered visiting the site decades before and he wanted to show it to us. We were traveling to Las Casas de Filipinas de Acuzar and along the way, we saw the signs to Mt. Samat. It's an iconic landmark, a towering white cross atop a mountain.  My husband remembers driving all the way up to the top of the mountain and taking the elevator inside the structure to reach a viewing gallery on the arms cross - but it was not something we could experience for ourselves. First, due to threats of erosion, the road leading up to the top was not accessible by car, and second - the elevator was no longer available to the public because the cross is already an old building.

So we had to park our car at the parking area at the entrance of the park, near the building where the visitor's orientation took place. We were given a brief background and history of the building, and we reminded that the place is a sacred space of remembrance and we should all behave in a solemn fashion to honor the dead. We were told the rules (no taking of TikTok videos, no bringing of food, no loud noises) and the routes (where to rest, where there are restrooms, where there's a viewing area, where the museum is located). And so off we went for a quick side trip.

The hike up was made bearable - even pleasant - by the presence of trees for shade, and wildlife - both plants and animals alike - that offered moments of wonder.  As we walked up, we stopped periodically to appreciate a flower here, a bird or insect there, and of course, the sweeping panoramic views of rolling hills on one side, and a view of Manila Bay from the other side! The cross supposedly faces the Rizal monument in Luneta park in Manila.  While my husband, who hails from Malolos claims that on a clear day, one should be able to see historic Barasoain church from across the water.  

I found the visit to Mt. Samat a wonderful combination of a nature walk and a history lesson. It felt good to breathe in fresh air and take in panoramic views while also getting to tour a museum with maps, photographs, and artifacts that exposed our kids to the second world war. The visit allowed us to have a lengthy conversation, on the climb up, at the museum, and on the way down.  It was a good combination of active moments and contemplative ones. I am glad we made this side trip.

Date of Visit: April 14, 2022

Mt. Samat National Shrine

Diwa, Pilar, Bataan