MEMORANDUM ORDER NO. 138

: The purpose of Memorandum Order No. 138 is to direct the Secretary of National Defense to lead the 2004 celebration of Araw ng Kagitingan on April 7, 2004 instead of the original date, April 9, 2004, because April 9 falls on Good Friday.
: It modified Memorandum Order No. 131, dated January 20, 2004, which originally directed the Secretary of National Defense to lead the 2004 observance of Araw ng Kagitingan and the Philippine Veterans Week on April 9, 2004.
: Because April 9, 2004, coincided with Good Friday, a day of high religious significance to Christians, the celebration was moved to April 7 to allow appropriate and meaningful observance of the event.
: The Secretary of National Defense is responsible for leading the observance of Araw ng Kagitingan.
: Araw ng Kagitingan, or Day of Valor, is a national observance in the Philippines commemorating the heroism of Filipino and American soldiers during World War II, particularly during the fall of Bataan.
: No, the order does not specify the exact activities but emphasizes that the event should be observed with appropriate and meaningful activities.
: Moving the date respects the religious sentiments of the majority of Filipinos by not overlapping a national observance with a significant religious holiday like Good Friday, ensuring that the observances are meaningful and respectful.