I have climbed mountains before and the experience always leave me breathless, both figuratively and literally. Mt. Samat is different in a way though as it only left me breathless figuratively as there is a road you can take directly up to the summit of the mountain and on to the Dambana ng Kagitingan monument.
Mount Samat is a historic mountain in the town of Pilar, Bataan. Located in its summit is the Mount Samat National Shrine, a national shrine dedicated to the fallen Filipino and American fallen during World War II. Mount Samat which stands at 555 masl is a parasitic cone of Mount Mariveles with no record of historical eruption.
At the start of World War II in 1942 after suffering heavy losses against the Imperial Japanese Army all over Luzon, the Filipino and American soldiers retreated to Bataan Peninsula to regroup for a last valiant but futile stand. After four months of fighting, the 78,000 exhausted, sick and starving soldiers under Major General Edward P. King surrendered to the Japanese on April 9, 1942 known as the fall of Bataan. It is the single largest surrender of U.S. soldiers in history and Mariveles, a town in the Bataan province, was their last stronghold after which, together with the Philippine soldiers, they were led on to the 80-mile (130 km) march to Capas, Tarlac known as the Bataan Death March.
The Mount Samat National Shrine shrine was erected as a fitting memorial to the heroic struggle and sacrifices of those soldiers who fought and died in that historic bastion of freedom.
It is not easy to miss this landmark as there are signs all over the main highway on directions to go there. The road to Mt. Samat is a 6km uphill winding road which has smooth roads from the start but turns to a somehow bumpy ride as you near the summit. At the entrance to the shrine, you will have to pay and entrance fee of P20/head and a P20 parking fee.
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| Keep your tickets as it will also serve as your ticket to the museum |
From the parking lot, you can have view of the park's two parts. First is the Colonnade up just a few steps from the parking lot and the Dambana ng Kagitingan further up.
From the
parking lot, a wide three series of steps that narrows to the top lead
visitors to the flagpole that holds the flag of the Philippines. The
last series of steps to the Colonnade level are bordered on two sides by
two pedestals topped with bronze urns symbolizing the eternal flame.
The
Colonnade is a marble-clad structure surrounded by an esplanade, itself
surrounded by marble-clad parapets. The outer side is covered with
sculptures and alternates depictions of the war.
The
Colonnade is a marble-clad structure surrounded by an esplanade, itself
surrounded by marble-clad parapets. The outer side is covered with
sculptures and alternates depictions of the war with bronze insignia of
USAFFE Division units. Each bronze insignia has a flagstaff for the
flags of each division.
In the centre of the Colonnade is the altar, behind which are three religious stained glass murals. Four large bronze chandeliers hang from the ceiling, while inscribed in marble on the two lateral walls is a narrative of the “Battle of Bataan”.
To the left of the Colonnade is the entrance to the museum, but unfortunately, taking pictures inside is strictly prohibited. The museum has displays relating to battles during World War II including, photos, guns and cannons, military equipments, uniforms, and strategic maps showing the progress of the battles.
A footpath that leads to the base of the Memorial Cross begins behind the Colonnade. The 14-flight, zig-zagging path on the mountain slope is paved with bloodstones from Corregidor Island. An alternate road to another parking lot also takes visitors to the base of the Memorial Cross.
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| The view of the Collonade with the flat plains of Bataan behind it |
I was a bit surprised upon reaching the base of the Monumental Cross as there are stores within the area combined with lots of people rummaging around.
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| Mt. Natib on the horizon |
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| Entrance to the elevator |
The Memorial Cross is a towering structure at the highest point of Mount Samat, 555 m above sea level. The monument is made of steel and reinforced concrete with an elevator and viewing gallery at the Cross's arms. A staircase also leads to the gallery in the wings but apparently it was closed when I was there and the only access to the top is through the elevator.
The exterior of the Cross is finished with chipped granolithic marble. The base of the cross is capped with sculptural slabs and relief depicting important historical figures and events like the execution of Jose Rizal, Lapu-Lapu and Antonio Luna.
There is a fee of P20 to the top of the Cross. I would suggest though that the first thing you do upon reaching the base of the cross is to line up to the queue of people waiting to ride the elevator as the lines can get really long especially during weekends.
After the long queue to the elevators, you will be reaching the gallery which is the two arms of the giant cross. Checking out the windows, you will be rewarded with amazing views of the whole Bataan Province.
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View of the Colonnade from the gallery |
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| Mt. Mariveles |
After checking out the gun displays around Colonnade, it is now time to bid farewell to this historical shrine. I would suggest everyone to try and visit Mt. Samat so that we can be aware of the rich history that has happened here during WWII.
After Mt. Samat, we are now headed to cool down to the nearby Dunsulan Falls at the foot of Mt. Samat. Follow me to my next blog post!
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