Manila, April 9 -- In commemoration of the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) on Wednesday, Speaker Ferdinand Martin Romualdez honored the nation's war heroes and urged Filipinos to reflect not only on the battle of Bataan but also on the silent sacrifices and human cost that came with it.

"Eighty-three years ago in Bataan, thousands of Filipinos stood their ground. They were tired. They were hungry. They were outnumbered. But they kept on fighting --not because they knew they'd win, but because they couldn't give up their dignity as Filipinos," Romualdez said in a statement.

He described the annual Day of Valor as a solemn occasion that goes beyond history books and ceremonies.

"Today, we remember more than just a battle. We remem...