CAPAS NATIONAL SHRINE

“Established as Camp O’Donnel in 1940 as cantonment center for the military training of the Filipino youth.
Became cantonnent and mobilization center of the 71th Division, PA, USAFFE on July 15, 1941, as ordered by the U.S.A. president ERANKLIN DELANO ROOSEVELT. Transformed into a Prisoner of War Camp by the Japanese Imperial forces after the “Fall of Bataan” and the surrender of the Filipino and American troops.
Renamed Capas Prisoners of War Concentration Camp. Around 60,500 Filipino and American prisoners of war were herded in this camp. Many became weak, sick and eventually passed away.
On July 25, 1942, approximately 30,000 Filipino and American prisoners died of sickness and malnutrition while under detention. Became Part of Clark Air Base Military Reservation after World War Ⅱ.
Turned over to the Philippine Government on the occassion the 40th Anniversary of Bataan Day on April 9, 1982.
Declared as capas National Shrine by Proclamation No. 842, dated December 7, 1991 by President CORAZON C. AQUINO.”
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BATAAN DEATH MARCH BOXCAR

“After the Death March which claimed many lives, Filipino and American prisoners of war, having walked 105 kilometers from Mariveles and Bagac, Bataan under the intense April heat, were assembled in San Fernando, Pampangaand were loaded into boxcar.

This boxcar, and many like it, were used to transport Filipino and American prisoners of war – the defenders of Bataan and Corregidor – from San Fernando Pampanga to prison camps in Capas, Tarlac after the long march.

It was one of the many freight cars of the Manila Railroad Company before the World War Ⅱ .
Measuring about six feet long, eight feet wide and six feet high, this boxcar had wooden walls and metal roof. A larger version made of steel, was 33 feet long, seven feet high and eight feet wide.

At San Fernando, the prisoners were loaded into the boxcars by the Japanese guards who used their rifle butts and bayonets to squeeze more people than the capacity of the boxcars. Fifty to sixty men were forced into this particular type of car. As many as one hundred fifty to one hundred sixty men were crammed into the larger version of this boxcar. The boxcars so tightly packed that it became impossible to sit down.
The only source of ventilation and air was a tiny slit in the door of each boxcar.

The car, under the sweltering sun, rapidly became an oven, and men suffocated in the heat. Those afflicted with dysentery could not control their defecation and soon the floor of the car was filthy with excrement, urine and vomit. Many died where they stood in the boxcars.

This boxcar is the last known surviving freight car of its kind, and is a mute witness to the human sacrifice and heroism of all those who were victims of the Bataan Death March. It serves as memorial to the horrors of war and to man’s inhumanity to his fellow man.”
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DESIGN FEATURES AND COMPONAENTS

“MEMORIAL MONUMENT
The “Obelisk” is the focal center of the entire shrine site which stands for peace.
The needle-like tower consist of three sections symbolizing the Filipino, American and Japanese people in this modern age of global peace, who have learned the lessons of war from the past.
Regulatory signal beacons is installed atop the obelisk, to symbolize the height of nationalistic aspiration of Filipinos towards peace and freedom.

The Mini-Forest (Nature Park)
to date, approximately 35 hectares of land hane been utilized for the reforestation of the shrine.
About 25,000 trees of various species(Mahogany, Duhat, Allbangbang, Mango, etc) have been planted.
The reforestation of the shrine area is a very appropriate action of the government so as to invoke invironment consciousness among the people in the province.

MEMORIAL PLAZA
A solemn gathering place to remember and honor the war heroes.
The large space provided allows the people to view the magnificence of the peace monument(Obelisk).
The scale and proportion of the site will create a monumental effect to excite the spectators imagination.

ESPLANADE
A wide mall along central axis from the front(main) gateway, to the Ceremonial Plaza, to the Flag pole and stretching to the Memorial Plaza and the Obelisk.
This central walk is flanked on both sides by mini-flagpole to accentuate the approach to the Obelisk.”
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