#MS57 picture shows the Philippine Division Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade. The Philippine Division had the all American Soldier 31st Inf. Regiment and all the other regiments were manned by Filipinos as Philippine Scouts.
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At the Mt Samat Shrine, besides the Memorial Cross, the Colonnade is the other main feature. The outside of the Colonnade is covered with 19 WWII relief sculptures and 18 USAFFE unit insignias. Taking pictures of these reliefs and insignias was the main purpose of this visit on the 7th Oct 2025. Last Dec. 2024 the colonnade and the museum were closed, because these items and the whole park were being renovated. I wanted to record all these reliefs and insignias which are now cleaned up.
The upper area with the cross is closed now also for renovation. A shrine employee said the renovation may take 2 years and it includes renovation of the elevator and the many Philippine history reliefs on the cross. The colonnade and the museum are also still closed but I could walk around the colonnade. And remember Mondays the Shrine is closed!
If you are interested, all 67 images have been uploaded into this Flickr album and in high resolution, click here:
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#MS01 to #MS07 pictures show views of the Mt. Samat Shrine east side, the front side. They show the steps leading to the colonnade, the flagpole with the Philippine Flag. The steps are flanked on each side by two pedestals, topped with bronze ums symbolizing an eternal flame.
#MS02.
#MS04.
#MS06.
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#MS09 picture shows a Typical Scene of a 155mm Gun Battery in Action; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS14 picture shows the USAFFE 2nd Regular Division Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS17 picture shows the USAFFE 11th Division Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
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#MS22 picture shows the relief “Crucial Defense at the Salient River Junction”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS23 picture shows the USAFFE 41st Division Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS24 picture shows the relief “Battle of the Pockets”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS25 picture shows the hillside under the cross and the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade at left. From the hillside at right, a Zig-Zag walkway is coming down from the cross. As you can see the cross area is closed for renovation.
#MS26 picture shows the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade at left. As you can see the colonnade area is closed for renovation, but I could walk around the colonnade complex.
#MS28 picture shows the relief “The Defense of the Abucay Line”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS30 picture shows the relief “Honorable Defeat and Final Victory”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS31 picture shows the USAFFE 71st Division Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS32 picture shows the relief “Death March”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
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#MS35 picture shows the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade at right. The view is towards the north.
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#MS37 picture is of a plaque that honors all the American and Filipinos who served in the Defense of Bataan by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau.
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#MS39 picture is a plaque to honor all the men that fought and died at this site and is presented here by the “Battling Bastard of Bataan” organization.
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#MS47 picture shows the relief “Heroic Last Stand at Mount Samat”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS49 picture shows the USAFFE Air Corps Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
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#MS51 picture shows the PN Off Shore Patrol Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS52 picture shows the relief “Inauguration of Pres. Quezon at Corregidor”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
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#MS54 picture shows a new structure is being erected at the south end of the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS56 picture shows the east side, the colonnade front side, at the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS57 picture shows the Philippine Division Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade. The Philippine Division had the all American Soldier 31st Inf. Regiment and all the other regiments were manned by Filipinos as Philippine Scouts.
#MS58 picture shows the relief “Battle of the Anyasan Point”; this is a WWII Relief Sculpture on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade.
#MS59 picture shows the Philippine Department Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade. The Philippine Department was the US Army in the Philippines before the war.
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#MS61 picture shows the HPA Insignia; this is the bronze insignia on the Mt. Samat Shrine Colonnade. I believe that is insignia of the Philippine Army in WWII.
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#MS64 to #MS66 pictures show views of the Mt. Samat Shrine east side, the front side and the gate area.
#MS64.
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#MS67 & #MS68 pictures show a plaque, located on the road to the Mount Samat Shrine, which records the effort of the Japanese Government and the Local People and Authorities to reforest Mt. Samat, starting about 1974. The right side of the Plaque is in English and is readable, very interesting; and I love trees!
#MS68.