Our Heroes Battle Cry

In lands where sun-bathed mountains pierce the sky,
And emerald rice fields whisper secrets by,
Arose a people, hearts with freedom's fire,
Their spirits forged in islands' deep desire.

From Luzon's shores to Mindanao's verdant hold,
Stories of heroes, brave and wise, unfold.
Lapu-Lapu's stand, a defiant warrior's might,
Against Magellan's steel, he fought for day and night.

Aguinaldo's cry, a nation's dream takes flight,
Against the Spanish crown, they rise and fight.
Bonifacio's blade, in shadows it did gleam,
A Katipunan spark, a revolution's dream.

Through jungles dense and mountains tall and steep,
They marched with courage, secrets patriots keep.
Women warriors, like Tandang Sora bold,
Stood side by side, their stories yet untold.

Underneath the moon, a whispered battle cry,
Guerrilla fighters, shadows in the night sky.
MacArthur's vow, a promise etched in sand,
To free their land, they fought, hand in hand.

Bataan's Death March, a testament to pain,
But still they rose, their spirits would not wane.
Corregidor's defiance, a stand against the tide,
For freedom's sake, their valor they did confide.

Victory's embrace, a hard-won, bittersweet prize,
The scars of war etched deep in freedom's eyes.
But in their hearts, a legacy they hold,
The Filipino spirit, brave and wise, unfolds.

So let us raise a glass, to heroes far and near,
Whose sacrifices echo, loud and clear.
The Filipino veterans, their courage we revere,
May their stories forever, in our memories, persevere.

Points of Information: ▼

Luzon (/luːˈzɒn/, loo-ZON; Tagalog pronunciation: [luˈson]) is the largest and most populous island in the Philippines. Located in the northern portion of the Philippines archipelago, it is the economic and political center of the nation, being home to the country's capital city, Manila, as well as Quezon City, the country's most populous city. (Wikiledia)

Mindanao (/ˌmɪndəˈnaʊ/ MIN-də-NOW) is the second-largest island in the Philippines, after Luzon, and seventh-most populous island in the world. Located in the southern region of the archipelago, the island is part of an island group of the same name that also includes its adjacent islands, notably the Sulu Archipelago. (Wikipedia)

Lapulapu is known for the Battle of Mactan: on April 26, 1521, he and his men defeated the Spanish forces, led by Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan and his native allies Rajah Humabon and Datu Zula. (Wikipedia)

Ferdinand Magellan was a Portuguese explorer best known for having planned and led the 1519 Spanish expedition to the East Indies across the Pacific Ocean to open a maritime trade route, during which he discovered the interoceanic passage thereafter bearing his name and achieved the first European navigation to Asia via the Pacific. He was killed in the Battle of Mactan, Mactan Island, now Province of Cebu, Cebu group of islands in 1521 in the present-day Philippines, after running into resistance from the indigenous population led by Lapulapu, who consequently became a Philippine national symbol of resistance to colonialism. (Wikipedia)

Emilio Aguinaldo y Famy was a Filipino revolutionary, statesman, and military leader who is the youngest president of the Philippines (1899–1901) and became the first president of the Philippines and of an Asian constitutional republic. He led the Philippine forces first against Spain in the Philippine Revolution (1896–1898), then in the Spanish–American War (1898), and finally against the United States during the Philippine–American War (1899–1901).

Andrés Bonifacio y de Castro was a Filipino revolutionary leader. He is often called "The Father of the Philippine Revolution", and considered one of the national heroes of the Philippines. (Wikipedia)

Melchora Aquino was a Filipino revolutionary. She became known as "Tandang Sora" ("tandang" meaning "old") because of her age during the Philippine Revolution. She was known as the "Grand Woman of the Revolution" and the "Mother of Balintawak" for her contributions. (Wikipedia)

Katipunan, (“Supreme Worshipful Association of the Sons of the People”), Filipino nationalist organization founded in 1892 to oppose Spanish rule. The organization numbered anywhere from 100,000 to 400,000 members. The Filipino nationalist Emilio Aguinaldo was the leader of this group, which successfully fought the Spanish. (Britannica)

The Bataan Death March was the forcible transfer by the Imperial Japanese Army of 75,000 American and Filipino prisoners of war (POW) from the municipalities of Bagac and Mariveles on the Bataan Peninsula to Camp O'Donnell via San Fernando. (Wikipedia)

During World War II, Corregidor played an important role during the invasion and liberation of the Philippines from the Imperial Japanese Army. The island was heavily bombarded during the later part of the war, and the ruins serve as a military memorial to American, Filipino, and Japanese soldiers who served and lost their lives on the battlefield. Corregidor is one of the most important historic and tourist sites in the country. (Wikipedia)

LINE COUNT: 32 Lines
WRITTEN FOR: "HONORING OUR VETERANS " 
PROMPT: ANYTHING TO DO WITH VETERANS OR THOSE SERVING,
PRIDE IN COUNTRY, FLAG ETC.