Bataan Day celebration set Thursday suspended

April 6, 2020

The Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) announced the suspension of the commemoration of the 78th Araw ng Kagitingan or Day of Valor on Thursday.

Other activities scheduled for Veterans Week were suspended because of the threat of 2019 coronavirus disease COVID-19) in the country.

"In line with the enhanced community quarantine and to ensure the safety of our veterans from the Covid-19 pandemic, the araw ng Kagitingan and 2020, the Philippine Veterans Week Technical Working Committee regrets to inform that the commemoration of the 78th Araw ng Kagitingan on April 9, 2020 and all scheduled Veterans week activities will be moved to a later date once the quarantine period is lifted," the PVAO said in an advisory issued on Monday.

Despite the suspension of the activities, PVAO called on the public to continue to remember sacrifice and heroism of Filipino and American soldiers to commemorate the Day Valor.

"Regardless of the cancellation of the events, we encourage everyone to observe the Araw ng Kagitingan and remember the heroism and bravery of the Filipino and American soldiers who stood side by side in the mountains and jungles of Bataan to fight for our liberty and freedom," it stated. Robina Asido/DMS