Freedom March 2026 Strengthens National Remembrance of Bataan Heroes

In an exclusive media interview at Camp O’Donnell in Capas, Tarlac, Miguel Angelo “Mike” C. Villa-Real, First Vice President for Marketing and Communications of Philippine Veterans Bank, shared key updates and powerful insights about this year’s Veterans Bank Freedom March. 

As the bank’s lead representative and National Executive Vice President of the Veterans Federation of the Philippines Sons and Daughters Association, Villa-Real emphasized that the Freedom March is more than a commemorative event it is a living tribute to the heroism and sacrifice of World War II veterans. 

Held along the historic route of the 1942 Bataan Death March from Kilometer Zero in Mariveles, Bataan, to the Capas National Shrine, the site of the former Camp O'Donnell the two-day trek retraces the footsteps of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers who endured unimaginable hardship. Inspired by the annual Bataan Memorial Death March in New Mexico, Villa-Real launched the local initiative in 2016 to create a more inclusive platform where civilians, descendants, active military personnel, and veterans could collectively honor the fallen. 

From an initial 800 participants, the 2026 Freedom March now draws close to 1,000 marchers, with civilians outnumbering military participants—a shift Villa-Real views as a hopeful sign of growing public awareness. He underscored the historical significance of Bataan as a national defense effort involving soldiers from across the Philippines under the United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE), noting that around 70,000 Filipinos fought in the campaign and an estimated 10,000 perished during the Death March. Through the restoration of World War II markers, partnerships with local governments across Bataan, Pampanga, and Tarlac, and documentary initiatives aimed at engaging Gen Z storytellers, Philippine Veterans Bank continues to preserve the legacy of courage, honor, and sacrifice. 

For Villa-Real, the Freedom March ultimately serves as both a memorial and a call to action—encouraging younger generations to look beyond themselves, serve their communities, and carry forward the enduring spirit of the nation’s heroes.

Full Video Interview