BATAAN – President Benigno S. Aquino III will lead the Araw ng Kagitingan rites at Mt. Samat Shrine, Pilar, Bataan on 9 April 2016 at 10:00 in the morning. This year’s theme is “Isabuhay ang Kagitingan, Kapayapaan ay Pagkaisahan, Kamtin ang Mithing Kaunlaran.”

Part one of the program will be the awarding of winners of the painting and essay writing contests by Department of Education Secretary Armin A. Luistro, to be assisted by Undersecretary for Civil, Veterans and Reserve Affairs, Department of National Defense, Jesus C. Millan, and Philippine Veterans Affairs Office Administrator Ernesto G. Carolina.  The awarding of winners on the oratorical contest will be done by VFP Sons and Daughters Association, Inc., Executive Vice President Ms. Estrella DL Santos to be assisted by Undersecretary Millan and Administrator Carolina.

The second part of the program will be the wreath-laying ceremonies to be led by President Aquino.  He will be joined by the Ambassador of Japan to the Philippines Kazuhide Ishikawa and the Ambassador of the United States of America to the Philippines Philip S. Goldberg.

The NHCP is the national government agency mandated to promote Philippine history through its museums, research and publication, and preserve the nation’s historical heritage through conservation and the marking of historic sites and structures.