Mount Samat is a famous WWII memorial site in Pilar Bataan Province. It is best known for its towering Shrine of Valor, a tribute to the American and Filipino soldiers who surrendered to the Japanese.
This mountain was where one of the bloodiest battles was fought against the Japanese Imperial Army in 1942, the Battle of Bataan. American and Philippine forces made their last valiant but futile stand against the Japanese at this site on the Bataan Peninsula.
After three brutal days, 78,000 American and Philippine forces, suffering from starvation and exhaustion, had to surrender. It was the largest American surrender in history, and resulted in the legendary Bataan Death March.
The mountain is now a war memorial, known as the Bataan Cross, but it also serves as a tourist attraction for military history buffs. A war museum is also on site with actual weapons and machines used in the battle, along with paintings depicting the fight.
Getting There & Away
The peninsula of Bataan is serviced by the Philippine Rabbit, Aladdin, and Genesis bus companies that ply the Manila to Bataan route daily. There are two major highways from Manila, the National Road and the Roman Superhighway. Manila’s huge international airport handles flights from all over the world, and is just 124kms from the city by road. Victory Liner coaches also service Bataan from Olongapo by road, or you can reach Balanga through the nearby Orion Port by ferry.