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Top 10 Intriguing Facts about Shrine of Valor

The shrine is also known as the Mount Samt National shrine, it is located near the summit of Mount Samt in the town of Pilar, Province of Bataan. The memorial shrine complex was built to honor and remember the gallantry of Filipino and American soldiers.

The park was commissioned in 1966 by then-President Ferdinand Marcos for the 25th anniversary of World War II. The memorial cross stands as a remembrance of the soldiers who fought and lost their lives in the Battle of Bataan. 

The shrine is normally referred to Dambana ng Kagitingan by the people of the Philippines.

The shrine receives a large number of visitors all year round, some are locals while others are tourists from all over the world.

The shrine offers a sense of familiarity, with realistic murals and notable sculptures. It teaches the visitors all about the great battle of Bataan and the lives that were fought to make the people of the Philippines feel safe in their land.

1. The Shrine’s History

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The shrine was created to show the heroic struggle and sacrifices of the soldiers who fought and died in that historic bastion of freedom. These were the soldiers who all fought the Battle of Bataan.

The memorial shrine was started with the laying of the cornerstone by President Marcos, this happened on April 14, 1966. The construction wasn’t finished until the 25th anniversary of the Fall of Bataan in 1967, this was all because of a lack of funds.

The shrine was completed and inaugurated in 1970 just in time for the 25th anniversary of the end of World War II.

2. Beautiful Architecture

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The shrine is located in an area of approximately 73,665 hectares, it consists of the Colonnade and at the mountain’s peak, the memorial cross. It was designed by Lorenzo del Castillo and landscaped by Dolly Quimbo- Perez.

3. The Colonnade

The colonnade is a marble-clad structure that is surrounded by an esplanade. The colonnade is surrounded by marble-clad parapets. The outer side is covered with 19 high-relief sculptures by National Artist Napoleon Abueva.

The center of the Colonnade is the altar three religious stained glass murals that were designed by Cenon Rivera. It was executed by Vetrate D’ Arte Guiliani of Rome, Italy.

There are four large bronze chandeliers that hang from the ceiling that were inscribed in marble on the two lateral walls.

4. Magnificent Footpath

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There is a footpath that leads to the base of the Memorial cross that begins behind the Colonnade. The zig-zagging path on the mountain slope is paved with bloodstones from Corregidor Island.

There is an alternate road that takes visitors to the base of the Memorial Cross.

5. The Memorial Cross

The cross-over looks at the entire city and the people of the area use this cross as a way to remind themselves of the history and dreadful battle.

The cross is a towering structure at the highest point of Mount Samat. The monument is made of steel and reinforced concrete with a lift and viewing gallery at the Cross’s arms.

There is a staircase that leads to the gallery in the wings. the height of the cross is 95m from the base while the height of the arms is 74m.

The exterior of the cross is finished with chipped granolithic marble, the base is capped with sculptural slabs and relief.  The slabs depict important historical figures and events like the execution of Jose Rizal, Lapu- Lapu, and Antonio Luna.

6. Fame Of The Shrine 

With a height of 302ft, the cross is known as the second tallest cross in the world. The cross and its surroundings are well maintained by national and provincial governments. 

With two panoramic 360-degree viewing galleries, they are both undeniably amazing and incredibly beautiful. This elevates the tourism of the shrine and city.

The entrance fee is affordable for tourists who are guided by tour guides. But one may feel the need to go with a rented car that is 30.00 pesos on top of the entrance fee

7. The War Museum

The shrine includes a war museum with a wide array of collections from paintings of the Philippine heroes. It has armaments that were used by the Filipino, American, and Japanese forces during the battle.

The museum shares the history of the most vicious battle against the Japanese Imperial Army. The detailed war led to the sacrifice of many Filipino and American soldiers.

8. Design of The Cross

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The cross was designed by Lorenzo del Castillo and Napoleon Abueva, both notable designers at the time. The material used was steel and reinforced concrete that was finished with chipped granolithic marble. 

The making of the cross began in 1966 and was completed in 1970. The time difference was immense but the cross ended up being the most magnificent cross. It also ended up being the second largest in the world even after it took so long to be completed.

9. Redevelopment Ideas

Over the years there has been much debate on how to improve the shrine and make it more suitable for visitors. There have been ideas that will make the place a better and lively visitor recreation attraction.

They plan on making the place a perfect example of valor, patriotism, and heroism with the modern conveniences of a tourism-oriented destination. With the planned changes, they plan on making it one of the biggest draws in Bataan. 

10. Wide Collection

USS Arizona Memorial, World War II Valor in the Pacific Monument, Pearl Harbor, Honolulu (503648) (20393487179).jpg Photo by Robert Linsdell –

One of the most entering things about the war museum is that it has a wide collection of armaments that were used by the Filipino, American, and Japanese troops during the Battle of Bataan.

Outside the shrine lies bigger weapons and canons that are the exact replica of the ones used during the war.

The museum also has the Japanese Invasion money that was issued by the Japanese Military Authority in replacement of the local currency. That’s not all, the museum has the original Japanese soldier uniform and documentation.

As much as the museum shows the painful past of Bataan, it also has pictures of every Filipino hero that changed the Philippines one way or the other.