DAUNTLESS: The Unsung Story of the Filipino People

"Filipino society bears the deep marks etched in its voluminous, yet tumultuous past. Confronting different belligerents at the context of armed conflicts across its transcending yearning for a unified sense of national identity and liberty from oppressive forces, our resilient and indomitable spirits at the present times find its roots entrenched from these stories — either written eloquently in the bold chapters of our history or left as whispers waiting to be heard and told to the next generation of Filipinos. However, as the memoirs of our collective upbringing as a nation gradually slip away into the shadows, the young people are left to ponder themselves on the resolve of our society as our values and perseverance are faced with new challenges, new faces, yet with the same determination to pivot our country’s trajectory for the better. We are constantly reminded to seek our history, learn, and invoke the same passion in our endeavors that shall serve others and our communities better. In consonance with our advocacy in promoting culture and heritage, the Bicol University - Movement for the Advancement of Youth-led Advocacy will spearhead a symposium called Dauntless: The Unsung Story of the Filipino People on October 17, 2025, at the Bulwagang BUeno, 3F Student Union Center Building, Bicol University Legazpi - West, from 1:00 pm - 5:00 pm. The project will feature the works and advocacy of author Ms. Marie Vallejo, who wrote the book Dauntless, a historical, nonfiction book depicting the accounts of the US Army’s 1st and 2nd Filipino Infantry Regiment during the Second World War. The discussion will revolve around different events described in the book that played crucial roles in the Philippine liberation, which include secret missions that are not discussed in mainstream conversations. Together with the Albay Arts Foundation, the project seeks to convene history enthusiasts, social studies students, and cultural advocates to navigate and reflect on this chapter of our history as a nation and develop a renewed sense of hope, love for country, and determination to dent positive change in our developing context as a nation through conversation in governance, advocacy, and perspectives at different standpoints. "