Larga-Bista: Mariveles (Bataan)

Whenever travel enthusiasts talk about their adventures in Bataan, located in Western Luzon, the most popular tourist destination would definitely be, hands-down, the Shrine of Valor, also called the Dambana ng Kagitingan, at the top of Mount Samat.

Shrine of Valor (June 15, 2012)

This famous spot was built in the memory of the heroic Filipino and American World War II soldiers in Bataan who fought the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942, in what is known today as the “Battle of Bataan”. In here, there is a 302-foot Memorial Cross located near the summit of the said mountain.

Great beaches in the towns of Morong and Bagac also abound in the Western parts of this Peninsula.

Incidentally, when plying the Northern-Eastern-Southern route in Bataan, you would be seeing several white obelisk road markers along the way called the “Death March Markers”. These markers are separated one kilometer from each other, commemorating the Bataan Death March on April 9, 1942, which saw Filipino and American prisoners of war trudging a total of 128 kilometers (80 miles) from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac. An estimated 5,000 to 10,000 Filipinos died in this historic march, characterized by wide-ranging physical abuse and murder, and resulted in very high fatalities inflicted by the Japanese Army.

"Death March" Marker

A simple invite from a friend of mine who wanted to view the parcel of land he bought in Camaya Coast, located in Mariveles, obviously elicited a big fat YES from me. Here was my chance to view this ‘hidden” area, which is not that famous for the usual travel buff.

Last August 17, 2013, me and my friends departed from Quezon City at 7:30 AM and arrived safely in the town of Mariveles via the Camaya Coast van at around 10:00 AM.

When I saw the markers passing by in descending order, it already gave me an excitement that the Kilometer Zero marker was just several minutes away.

Due to the “call of nature”, we stopped by at the Jollibee Mariveles branch, and when we came out of the outlet, lo and behold, a few walks from our van, was the memorial shrine & park where the “Kilometer Zero Death March Marker” was situated, which meant that in this specific spot was the starting point of the Death March.

"Starting Point of Death March" Sign

Kilometer Zero Death March Marker

Inside the area were two big metal plaques from the National Historical Commission where the story of the event was inscribed. In between the plaques were the flags of the Philippines and the United States.

Plaques and Flags

Departing from that area, we went straight to Camaya Coast, dubbed as the little Boracay of Bataan, which was the target destination of my friend. After he saw the lot he invested, since it was still being developed, we proceeded to the beach area, ate a complementary lunch, and savored the breathtaking view of the place.

Manila Bay at the background

Infinity Pool

Camaya Park

As we left the resort, we went back to the town proper to take photos at the historically significant Parish Church of Saint Nicholas Tolentine, which was built in 1729.