Poem for Col. Estrada
He stood upon the tallest hill
as the sun shone high and the earth stood still.
They bravely fought but could not win
and now their passage by fire would begin,
the defenders of Bataan.
They made a pact one and all
a promise kept though men would fall,
to stand together and remain as one
as they marched underneath the burning sun,
the defenders of Bataan.
Four days and nights they journeyed on
each day they lived a battle won.
Each night more grueling then before
not to heed dream’s plea forevermore,
the defenders of Bataan.
He heard the farmers call but he stood strong
he turned away from their siren song,
all his strength this pact would take
but he had a promise he would not break, to
the defenders of Bataan.
Then came the night in that dreadful space
yellow rain upon his upturned face,
his body beaten but his spirit alive
and through this spirit he would survive, with
the defenders of Bataan.
Though they found no relief that night
more adversity came with the morning light.
They traveled far, crushed in man made hell
and when the doors were opened dead men fell,
(such were the trials of)
the defenders of Bataan.
Slow months in the camp turned into years
death, suffering humiliation, tears.
Twisted feet and bodies torn
comrades dead too many to mourn,
the defenders of Bataan
But the soul triumphed and he walked a free man
A survivor of the cruelties of Japan.
A promise now kept, a new promise made
that memory of their sacrifice would never fade,
the defenders of Bataan.
Now his memories live inside of me,
and through his eyes the war I see.
Lolo, you have fulfilled your promise not to let
the memories fade or the world forget,
the defenders of Bataan.
to Lolo Dads, my hero and founder of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Inc.; and also to his comrades in arms, the valiant heroes of Bataan and Corregidor. May we
never forget their sacrifice for the Filipino nation.
Atty. Natanya Garcia (January 10, 2010)
as the sun shone high and the earth stood still.
They bravely fought but could not win
and now their passage by fire would begin,
the defenders of Bataan.
They made a pact one and all
a promise kept though men would fall,
to stand together and remain as one
as they marched underneath the burning sun,
the defenders of Bataan.
Four days and nights they journeyed on
each day they lived a battle won.
Each night more grueling then before
not to heed dream’s plea forevermore,
the defenders of Bataan.
He heard the farmers call but he stood strong
he turned away from their siren song,
all his strength this pact would take
but he had a promise he would not break, to
the defenders of Bataan.
Then came the night in that dreadful space
yellow rain upon his upturned face,
his body beaten but his spirit alive
and through this spirit he would survive, with
the defenders of Bataan.
Though they found no relief that night
more adversity came with the morning light.
They traveled far, crushed in man made hell
and when the doors were opened dead men fell,
(such were the trials of)
the defenders of Bataan.
Slow months in the camp turned into years
death, suffering humiliation, tears.
Twisted feet and bodies torn
comrades dead too many to mourn,
the defenders of Bataan
But the soul triumphed and he walked a free man
A survivor of the cruelties of Japan.
A promise now kept, a new promise made
that memory of their sacrifice would never fade,
the defenders of Bataan.
Now his memories live inside of me,
and through his eyes the war I see.
Lolo, you have fulfilled your promise not to let
the memories fade or the world forget,
the defenders of Bataan.
to Lolo Dads, my hero and founder of the Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor Inc.; and also to his comrades in arms, the valiant heroes of Bataan and Corregidor. May we
never forget their sacrifice for the Filipino nation.
Atty. Natanya Garcia (January 10, 2010)
