Day of Valor
The Day of Valor, officially known as Araw ng Kagitingan, is a national observance in the Philippines which commemorates the fall of Bataan to Japanese troops during World War II. The day is officially celebrated every April 9, the start of the Bataan Death March, although the date was moved on several occasions to avoid it from coinciding with the observance of the Holy Week in the country, especially the Easter Triduum and Easter Sunday, such as in 2009 and 2023.
| Day of Valor | |
|---|---|
Philippine President Bongbong Marcos offering wreath at Mount Samat National Shrine in Pilar, Bataan on Day of Valor 2024 | |
| Official name | Araw ng Kagitingan |
| Also called |
|
| Observed by | Philippines (nationwide), United States (Maywood, Illinois) |
| Significance | Commemorates the fall of Bataan during World War II |
| Date | April 9 |
| Next time | April 9, 2025 |
| Frequency | Annual |
| First time | April 9, 1961 (as Philippine holiday) |
Due to Bataan's significance in World War II, the holiday was officially known as Bataan Day or Corregidor Day prior to the 2000s and still known under this name by others. In the United States, the holiday is celebrated in Maywood, Illinois, where it is referred to by its old name.