Death March marker, Silahis,
Orani, Bataan
by birgitteOrani, Bataan
If you wish to see many of the historical landmarks, take the inner road (MacArthur Highway) instead of the major highway to Mariveles (Roman Expressway).
How to spot this landmark:
Coming from Manila, you will pass the Orani Municipal Hall on your left. Directly across from that is the Sto. Rosario Parish Church. Straight ahead is a bridge. Right after the bridge, look to your left. This landmark is just on the left of the entrance to Silahis.
There are really no parking areas for tourists as we are talking about being on a busy road here. Probably the reason why this was placed here is to remind commuters that once this road etched itself in history by witnessing the gruesome march of both Filipino and American soldiers to what most of them would term 'hell'.
I took this picture from the other side of the street (on zoom) as I couldn't take a proper picture of it on the side it is on lest I want to be run over by vehicles. And yes, I walked a bit just to get a pic of this. Anyway, it wont take you 5 minutes from the town plaza. If a dog is chasing you, you can probably reach it in 1 min. That is how near it is from the town plaza.
One major disappointment for me is that I remember this monument as being very well tended to before. Now probably because of pollution, some of the marble are chipping and ahhh.... ehhh.. the reason why I didn't include the bronze plaque in the picture is because it has embarassing discolorations on it. Rivulets of discoloration... a testament to the jinglelizing habit of pinoys.
Dedication of this landmark written on bronze plaque (not shown in pic):
THE DEATH MARCH
an undying tribute
to the cause of democracy
in this islands,
it may well be
this bloodiest resistance
Of the Allied forces
during the early part
of the Second World War
in this tiny peninsula of Bataan
that gave fulfillment
to the well-known pledge:
"I Shall Return"
In living memoir
this marker
is most humbly
dedicated
