Typhoon "Quiel" was hitting the country hard the morning we rode to "Kilometer 1 " in Mariveles, Bataan...
Kilometer 1 marks the first step, to more than a hundred kilometers of the gruesome Bataan Death March where tens of thousands of Filipino and American soldiers died when they were made to walk from Mariveles to Tarlac during the second world war. Most of them died of hunger and illness during the death march.
A memorable ride we did for Motorcycle Diaries tracing all the markers from Kilometer 1 down to KM112. Backriding with me on this trip was historian Rhonnie Dela Cruz of the Bamban Historical Society.
The typhoon rains didn't stop us from finishing our trip to one of Philippine history's most unforgettable event, as we rode the GS 650 to the different markers along the highways, put up by Filipino-American Memorial Endowment, Inc.
Rhonnie shared interesting stories about the march, as he patiently related tales of patriotism of Filipino soldiers who braved severe hunger, extreme weather, and reported Japanese atrocities during the infamous march.
I must have passed by these roads several times on the motorbike, but didn't even notice these 3 ft high cement markers.
Plying this historical route, will never be the same again...
Black and white photos by fellow rider Ibba Bernardo.
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