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Pride of World War II
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Bathrooms kinda suck....if your a female.
In a nutshell
A shrine to honor heroes who fought for freedom
Visit the Shrine of Valor in Mt. Samat
monina_c Says: I think it is a must for every Filipino to go and visit the Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan) atop Mt. Samat! I have been there several times but it still is special! It is not the immensity of the cross nor the climb to it that takes my breath away but the...
Mount Samat: A memorial to the brave
thescene Says: During the Second World War the armed forces of Imperial Japan swept through many areas in the Philippines. The remaining American and Filipino forces were forced to retreat to Mount Samat and the island of Corregidor in the Bataan Peninsula under war Plan Orange as...
Go Up To The Arms Of The Cross
cyndymc Says: The Memorial Cross has a height of 92 meters from the base, and its arms are set at 74 meters from the base, with a length of 30 meters or 15 meters per side. Inside the arms of the cross is the Viewing Gallery where tourists can (on a fine sunny day) see a panoramic view of...
Have a Picnic With Your Family & Friends
cyndymc Says: On our way down the foot path & stairs from the Memorial Cross, we met some people carrying pots/casseroles and picnic baskets. I asked a woman if they were going to have a picnic, and she said yes, they always have a picnic at the top, under the trees. I admire them for...
Philippine History Through Sculptural Bas-Reliefs
cyndymc Says: Upon reaching the Memorial Cross, I rested for a while and immediately shot a souvenir picture of my grandson. There was a long queue to the elevator that brought tourists up to the viewing gallery, so I had ample time to appreciate the sculptural bas-reliefs on the base of...
Dare Go Up Through The Zigzag Foot Path & Stairs
cyndymc Says: Behind the Colonnade, you'll find the zigzag foot path and stairs. Carved on the steep slope of Mt. Samat, the foot path and stairs involves a climb of 14 flights. Surprisingly, I didn't find the climb very tedious because in between flights of a few steps of the stairs,...
cyndymc Says: As you go up the stairs past the flag pole, you will see the Colonnade. It is an impressive marble-capped structure with an altar, esplanade and museum. As you go up the esplanade, you will notice the 18 bronze insignias of the USAFFE with 19 scriptural murals at the...
Experience History As It Unfolds At The Shrine
cyndymc Says: "Dambana ng Kagitingan" or Shrine of Valor offers you the experience of reliving history. It was the brainchild of then President Ferdinand Marcos who thought it would be befitting to have a memorial erected in Mt. Samat to pay honor and tribute to the gallant and patriotic...
Take Note: There Are Two Parking Areas
cyndymc Says: Most of the time, vehicles automatically drive straight to the parking area infront of the stairway to the Flag Pole and Colonnade. If you park there, you have to traverse the 14 flights of zigzagging stone-laden path and stairs at the back of the Colonnade to go up to the...
Prepare Exact Amount for Entrance & Parking Fees
cyndymc Says: To avoid delay and inconvenience at the gate, prepare exact change for your entrance & parking fees: P20/pax entrance fee for local tourists (slightly higher for foreigners); P20 parking fee for car. I noticed that there is a discount for students and senior citizens, but...
Watch for The Km.19 Death March Marker
cyndymc Says: Coming from Balanga, keep a watchful eye on the left side of the road and watch for the Km. 19 Death March Marker. This commemorates the site of the historical battle between the Filipino & American soldiers of USAFFE and the Japanese Forces.A short distance from this marker...
machomikemd Says: Bataan is Famous Around the World due to the Bataan Death March and Due to the Valor of Philippine and American Troops under the USAFEE who fought a delaying action in the Bataan Peninsula agianst the Japanese Imperial Army that delayed their plans and saved Australia from...
pres_16 Says: Going up to the top of the cross is supposed to be the highlight of visiting Mt. Samat. During our visit, we were dissapointed because the service elevator was not working, still under repair, so we were not able to go up. The management also did not allow the visitors to...
cyndymc Says: The main tourist destination in Pilar is the Shrine of Valor at Mt. Samat. It is most convenient to go there by car/private vehicle because it is a long uphill walk from the national road.From Metro Manila: Drive through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), entry toll fee is...
i-s-a Says: .Filipino ingenuity at its best!We saw this really remarkable mode of transportation on our way to the cross. Children use this to save their energy when going down the slopes of Samat. Since we are going up while they're going down, we let it pass though half-heartedly. We...
Don't Go To The Public CR Alone
cyndymc Says: Unless due to extreme necessity, don't go to the public CR at the Shrine of Valor alone. There is a CR attendant at the door, but he is more concerned with checking if tourists dropped a donation (P3 or P5, depending on what you do inside) for using the CR. He won't concern...
cyndymc Says: Based on feedback by friends who have been to the Viewing Gallery of the Memorial Cross before, ONLY A MAXIMUM OF 5 persons were allowed inside the elevator. That is why I got a bit scared when the elevator man called in 8 persons instead of 5, and there was no distinction...
cyndymc Says: Please note that the Viewing Gallery is only 18 ft. by 90 ft. with a 7-foot clearance. So if you are a 7-footer or taller (I may be wrong, but I think very few people reach that height, but just in case...), then you'll be better off skipping that place...unless you're...
mlt_t Says: Pilar is one of the municipalities included in the Industrial Hub of the ’W’ Growth Corridor. Being adjacent to the provincial capital and main commercial center Balanga, Pilar is the next site for industrial development in Bataan
mlt_t Says: The Pacific War started on 08 December 1941 with the Japanese Imperial Forces and the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE). On January 1, 1942, major units of the United States Forces in the Philippines (USFIP) retreated to Bataan, Corregidor for a “last ditch...
Plan a Pilar vacation with reviews, tips and photos posted by real travelers and Pilar locals
The giant cross of the Shrine of Valor (Dambana ng Kagitingan) can be climbed via an elevator. You can also use the stairs but as it is more than 30 flights...
Q: Hi guys! I'm planning to have a tour of Bataan, I'd like to know how to commute from Balanga to Dambana ng Kagitingan in Pilar and...
A: If I recall right, it's about 30 mins or less. However, I'm not sure, as I didn't notice it, if there are public jeepneys or tricycle that go up to Mt. Samat. Dambana...
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The most famous landmark of Bataan, the giant cross or "the Shrine of Valor", is located in Mt. Samat, Pilar. The cross atop Mt. Samat is visible in almost all areas of Bataan. You can even view it......
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A town in the southeast part of Bataan bounded by Balanga in the north, Orion in the South, Bagac in the west and Manila Bay in the east. The place was made famous by the "Dambana ng Kagitingan"...
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Long ago this town was merely a barrio within the jurisdiction of the town of Balanga. There were very few inhabitants. One day a Spanish galleon was tossed to its shores by a violent storm. The...
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I've got some interesting experiences in Pilar. I'd love to share with you the 1 tip I've written, the 8 photos uploaded, and 0 travelogues I've created.
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Mixed Emotions At Pilar, Bataan
Instead of going directly to the beach resort in Bagac, we decided to go to Pilar to bring my grandson to the Shrine of Valor at Mt. Samat. From the national road, we saw that the tip of the Memorial...
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