This 2025, the Filipino people are invited to participate in the commemoration activities for the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan and the 2025 Philippine Veterans Week. Spearheaded by the Department of National Defense and the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office (PVAO) in collaboration with various government agencies, this year’s celebrations will run from April 5 to April 11, 2025, under the theme: “Kabayanihan ng Beterano: Sandigan ng Kaunlaran ng Bagong Pilipinas.”
Event Highlights:
Sunrise Ceremony: April 5, 2025, 6:00 AM at the Libingan ng mga Bayani, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Wreath-Laying Ceremony: April 5, 2025, 7:00 AM at the Libingan ng mga Bayani.
Review in Honor of the Veterans: April 5, 2025, 9:00 AM at the Hunters ROTC Guerilla Field, Philippine Army Headquarters, Fort Bonifacio, Taguig City.
Araw ng Kagitingan Commemoration
The highlight of the week, the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan, will be commemorated on April 9, 2025, at 8:00 AM at the Mount Samat National Shrine, Pilar, Bataan. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. will lead the activities, including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Dambana ng Kagitingan to honor Filipino and American veterans of World War II. The President will also deliver a speech reaffirming the government’s commitment to the welfare of the Filipino veterans.
Joint Tribute to all Filipino Heroes & Paggunita sa Capas and Sunset Ceremony
On April 10, 2025, the public is invited to join the Joint Tribute to all Filipino Heroes and Paggunita sa Capas at 7:30 AM at the Capas National Shrine, Capas, Tarlac.
The commemorative week will conclude with the Sunset Ceremony on April 11, 2025, at 4:00 PM at the Libingan ng mga Bayani. This solemn event will feature a Eucharistic Mass and a reflection program where families of veterans will share personal stories of their loved ones’ heroism.
While most events are open to the public, the 83rd Araw ng Kagitingan ceremony at Mount Samat National Shrine on April 9, 2025, will have limited capacity. To ensure accessibility, the Philippine Veterans Affairs Office will broadcast the events live on its official Facebook Page.
In addition to the main ceremonies, various promotional and community events also took place nationwide and in the USA, including the 2025 Freedom March from Mariveles, Bataan to Capas, Tarlac on March 1-2, a Medical Mission in Pagsanjan, Laguna on March 15, the Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico on March 22, Meet and Greet with Veterans at the Philippine Korea Friendship Center, Taguig on March 24 to engage and educate the youth, a special Film Screening of “Tagumpay: Ang Imahe ng mga Beterano at Bayaning Pilipino Noong Digmaang Pasipiko.” At the BTVWWII Theater on March 26 and the National Creative Competitions for students that ran the whole month of March 2025.
Aside from this, the Faces of Valor Historical Exhibit at the University of Santo Tomas will also open for the public from April 21 – 30, 2025.
Free LRT and MRT rides may also be availed by veterans throughout the Philippine Veterans Week. Other details of this activity will be announced by the Department of Transportation.
