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Post by VeeVee on Apr 10, 2014 22:25:18 GMT -5
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Post by labrador on Apr 11, 2014 9:32:42 GMT -5
thanks for posting, vic!
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Post by VeeVee on Apr 12, 2014 9:28:21 GMT -5
Thanks for doing the reenactment. I'm very sure a lot of Balanga townspeople walked away with a renewed sense of pride. I thought I saw somewhere a naysayer with a negative attitude wondering why we keep remembering and commemorating a defeat. I think that's a very wrong attitude. We are not commemorating a defeat. We are honoring the memory of those who sacrificed in the defense. We are honoring and recognizing the spirit that made them stand and fight. We are recognizing the principle that they fought for. We are reinforcing the resolve a'la Gettysburg address that said: we here highly resolve that those who fell did not die in vain. We are memorializing the event to give people a sense of identity, and a standard that they need to hold themselves to - because of the sacrifices made by those who fought there. We are not commemorating a defeat. I don't like negative people who think that way. Anyway, excellent photos by Karl Nualla  www.facebook.com/karl.nualla/media_set?set=a.10152016933309080.1073741851.689644079&type=1 |
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Post by insurrectomad on Jun 8, 2014 2:37:05 GMT -5
There is defeat and defeat! The japanese won a very Peric victory, at great cost in men and time! Marooned without relief, supplies of ammo. food or medicine and without any air-cover or ak-ak guns, these brave Filipinos held back the Japanese for 3 months and possibly saved Australia from invasion! Winston Churchill described it as a great feat of arms and a heroic action. Are we to ignore and forget such a sacrifice and military achievement? It is a shame that so many Filipinos today are so ignorant about their history and the valour of the Bastards of Bataan. Most if not all the Filipino troops were green, with just a few months basic training and no battle experience and WW1 weapons who more than matched the elite battle-hardened Japanese soldiers and withstood almost daily air bombing and heavy artillery without breaking! The Philippine troops in Bataan proved themselves to be second to none!
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Post by insurrectomad on Jun 8, 2014 3:10:00 GMT -5
I forgot to make any mention of the day in Balanga! The town and mayor gave us wonderful support, and the "battle" was perfect with great pyro explosions. All had a big turn out in members and after 3 rehearsals during a blisteringly hot day we put on a great show. Thankfully i wore a large field workers burri hat during rehearsals with a wet flannel on my head. the oil preservative in the helmet lining (1940 vintage) began to run in the heat as the steel became almost too hot to handle, but luck held as The wet Flannel absorbed it. Otherwise I would have a Black cross on my bald head a ring around my forehead! Next year the Mayor has promised us it will be the largest reenactment battle ever in the Philippines with Official american support and perhaps assistance to get some American Reenactors to attend!
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