Mount Samat, 553 MASL
HISTORICAL TRAILS: MT. SAMAT
Pilar, Bataan
Jumpoff: Brgy. Diwa, Pilar
LLA: 553 MASL
Days required / Hours to summit: 1 day / 1 hour
Specs: Minor climb, Difficulty 1/9, Trail class 1, Historical trail
Mount Samat is a historic mountain in the town of Pilar, province of Bataan. Located near its summit is the Mount Samat National Shrine, a national shrine dedicated to the fallen Filipinos and Americans during World War II.
It was just an ordinary weekend. Since I haven't blogged this mountain yet in my very own province, Bataan, we decided to go for a hike. We brought our owner-type jeepney and parked it 7 kilometers away from the shrine. We hiked for an hour and 15 minutes. We just brought one bag with our stove, coffee, bread, and noodles. It is our first time to hike together as a family... with Janelle and James walking =)
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| glad they enjoyed hiking |
Mount Samat is a parasitic cone of Mount Mariveles with no record of historical eruption. The summit of Mount Samat is 9.2 km (5.7 mi) NNE of the Mariveles caldera. Mount Samat itself has a 550-metre (1,800 ft) wide crater that opens to the northeast. The Mount Samat Cross is situated near the edge of the crater rim.
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| we are the only group hiking... multiple vehicles just passed us going uphill |
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| a cool hike, I must say =) |
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| spent our breakfast at the shrine |
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| pa cute!!! na cute naman =) |
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| wonderful breakfast on top of the mountain |
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| the cross |
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
The Philippines was a nation in
the thick of World War II. Then an American colony, the Philippines was
attacked by Japanese forces on Dec. 8, 1941, barely a day after Pearl
Harbor. In less than a month, Manila was declared an open city on Jan.
2, 1942. However, Filipino and American forces held on, and from
February onwards, the battle lines were drawn for the final stand in
Bataan. The ensuing "Battle of Bataan" lasted for three months. Finally,
on April 9, 1942, 75,000 Filipino and American soldiers surrendered and
although exhausted, they were forced to march the 140-km road from
Mariveles, Bataan all the way to Capas, Tarlac. Thousands died en route
from disease, starvation, dehydration, heat prostration, untreated
wounds, and wanton execution. Those who were left behind continued to
defend the island of Corregidor in one final stand, finally giving up
only in May 6, 1942 - the last stand of freedom in the Philippines and
Southeast Asia.
The Dambana ng Kagitingan (Shrine of Valor) in
Mt. Samat was erected to commemorate the Battle of Bataan. The 92-meter
high cross, known as the 'Bataan Cross', is a commemmoration of a
people's bravery and heroism, as well as the historical ties that bind
Filipinos and Americans who fought alongside each other in that dark
hour of history.
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| the cross' shadow photographed by Brando =) |
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| with my one and only <3 |
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| best friends |
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| Mount Tarak Ridge as the background |
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| with my very cute kids =) |
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| suko na po ako! |
There's a Php10 entrance fee at the shrine, Php10 entrance at the museum and another Php10 fee if you're going to go up to the cross using the elevator.
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| Janelle at the very colorful background |
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| post nup, hehe =) |
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| Finally we are complete on top of a mountain... |
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