By MAR T. SUPNAD
MARIVELES, Bataan – Japanese Ambassador Ryuichiro Yamazaki visited here recently the Death March Marker or the zero point marking the start of the Death March where thousands of American and Filipino Prisoners of War (POWs) during World War II perished.
The 100-mile-long death march started here on April 12, 1942 and lasted a week upon reaching Camp O’Donell where they were imprisoned.
Accompanied by his political Minister Taeko Takanachi, he was welcomed at the Orion Port by Caesar Cuayson, Bataan Provincial Tourism Officer and Gila Garcia, daughter of Gov. Tet Garcia.
They were greeted at the Death March marker by the Mariveles local officials led by Mayor Angel "Boboy" Peliglorio Jr., Vice Mayor Jesse I. Concepcion and the Sangguniang Bayan members Ernie del Rosario, Amante Versoza, Rafael Sanchez, Joel Ibarra and Municipal Administrator Leonardo Mallari.
After a short program prepared for the Japanese guests they drove to KM-4 where the ambassador stepped down from his car to jog through the zigzag road up to KM-5 a portion of the Death March trail.
During his Bataan visit, the Japanese Ambassador has also paid a courtesy call on Governor Garcia at the provincial capitol after which he visited the "Home for the Aged" in nearby Tuyo, Balanga City.
The ambassador and his group received felicitation and recognition by Congressman Garcia during a short program prepared by the provincial capitol during the celebration of the "Fall of Bataan."
