The observance corresponding to a veterans' day in the Philippines is officially known as Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) and is held annually on April 9. It is a regular national holiday commemorating the service and sacrifice of Filipino veterans, particularly during World War II.
The date, April 9, specifically marks the anniversary of the Fall of Bataan in 1942, when Filipino and American soldiers under the United States Army Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) formally surrendered to the Imperial Japanese Army. This event precipitated the Bataan Death March. The commemoration was established through legislation to honor the gallantry and heroism of these soldiers. While it is the nation's primary day for honoring war veterans, it is distinct from the American "Veterans Day" (November 11) in both date and historical origin.
Araw ng Kagitingan serves as the focal point of Philippine Veterans Week, which is observed from April 5 to 11 each year. As a regular non-working holiday, it is marked by official ceremonies, wreath-laying events, and parades, most prominently at the Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) on Mount Samat in Pilar, Bataan. The day functions as a national tribute to the enduring legacy of courage and patriotism demonstrated by the country's military veterans.
