The 40's (War-time)

Mother had a slow recovery. Medical healthcare did not seem to be effective and she had to resort to herbal medicine and therapy. When war broke up in December 1941, she was strong enough to sit and take a slow walk.

In the surprise start of the Japanese-American War, the airport in Iba was one of the first targets of Japanese bombers. When people realized the danger from bomb attacks, they left their homes in the towns and evacuated to safer places. The family together with the other relatives went to the farm north of the town and built cottages for shelter and storage of belongings. Food was not a problem then for Father could go to town and load his cart with rice and other supplies.

To us young people, life seemed to be a camping experience with much time for leisure together. No one expected the war to last. We were sure the Americans would easily conquer the enemy. The United States Armed Forces in the Far East (USAFFE) was based just east of the town.

Suddenly, on Christmas Eve of 1942, word reached elders that Japanese troops had landed in San Felipe, shooting civilians, burning towns and raping women. All families in town left for Santa Fe that night.

Father packed clothes and other belongings, made a soft place for mother and the two kids in the cart, and we left. All those able walked ahead of the carts, crossing short-cuts through rice fields. Fortunately, it was a moonlight night, but then walking in the open and be spotted by bomber planes was avoided.

After spending the night in Santa Fe, the elders heard that the Japanese were advancing; they could follow the road and find Santa Fe, so everyone must move, go up farther to the mountains. In Matiques, along a creek hidden by clumps of bamboos, huts were built. For survival, shelter and food are essential. At the time, fear for life made us strong.

Life in the evacuation sites kindled strong bonds among the families. Rice, meat, salt could be shared with those whose supplies run out. Elders also organized a look-out warning system from the able-bodied men. Our rice supply was running low so only mother and the two young children had full meals.

Fighting between the US and the Japanese forces was becoming intense. Cannons were firm Bataan and Corregidor.

Cooking and drying clothes in the open were forbidden as these would signal habitation and make us target for the bombers. Another fear came from the rumored attacks of Negritoes who were after supplies and the carabaos for meat. To the evacuees the carabaos were indispensable for pulling the carts. Defense system had to be set up.

In 1943, this life of privation and fear was ended when news of Japanese victory reached people in hiding. Sounds of bombardment had ceased and government was restored. Japanese forces had occupied the public buildings and soldiers had set up their barracks.

Stories of tortures and other atrocities were told. However, people were directed to return to their homes or they were suspected as guerillas and be arrested. So, Father and the other family heads decided to return, but to the old evacuation site north of the town. They thought that if the Japanese become violent and kill civilians, everyone could run and go up in the forest nearby Vega Hill.

Life under this Japanese Occupation period was fun and carefree for the children. Schools were open and Japanese songs and customs were taught. There were even attempts at fraternization between the soldiers and young women. While there were whispered news of guerilla activities and harboring of American soldiers in the mountains, we never talked about these happenings in the family. We did not imagine that Father was active in that movement, involved in procurement of supplies and intelligence service.

Mother had become stronger and was now her former self, managing the housework, even going to the market. The older and bigger girls in the families would go up Vega Hill and gather bamboo shoots. Mother would slice them finely, sell in the market and come home with salt, sugar and canned goods.

Life under this situation seemed to last for years and years. Everyone was growing older and more aware of events around us. Cang Beb had graduated from the Philippine Normal School under the three year combined curriculum of regular and home economics like mother and taught in the elementary school at San Miguel a barrio in San Antonio.

I was caught by the outbreak of the war on December 1941 while in my senior year at PNC. Due to finish in 1942, our batch was declared automatically graduated. With that qualification, I went to apply for a teaching position in Subic. It turned out that Mr. Bada, the supervisor knew Father who accompanied me.

I was accepted and began teaching immediately, Japanese language and writing. Katakana and Hiragana were taught in schools. Opening ceremonies were held facing the direction of the Imperial Palace, bowing from the waist to, the Japanese flag and singing the Japanese anthem, Kimigayo. Relative normality of commerce was established locally and nationally under what was called a “puppet government”.

Food and other basic commodities were getting scarce. Japanese money replaced the Philippine currency and prices soared with the valueless paper money. Guerillas became more active causing more intensive hunt of members, and tempting informers with rewards of rice and canned foods. Thus started betrayal and reprisals among countrymen. Another period of fear persuaded. Anyone pointed at by a hooded informer was arrested, tortured and executed in public.

Father, like most male citizens, avoided venturing into town. Instead, we elder girls were sent to clean the house and yard in town. A neglected house was the home of a guerilla and therefore set on fire. When Japanese soldiers patrol the neighborhood however, we would go and lie down beside Apong Cando, cover our selves with ill-smelling clothes and trembled all over to fake an attack of malaria.

This life of false security and privation went on for about two years. In the middle of 1944, secret radios were catching news of American forces conquering Pacific Islands, the dropping of atomic bombs on cities in Japan. Suddenly, the Japanese were nowhere in town. They had left to join their forces probably for a strong last stand. American forces had indeed landed in Philippine soil. They landed on the shores of San Felipe and in a matter if hours they were coming, tanks ready with firearms while waving at all the civilians waving the V-sign shouting “Victory Joe”.

The Liberation War did not last long. Government was restored, prisoners of war were sent home. American soldiers who had been harbored by guerilla groups in the mountains were rescued by their countrymen. Among the survivors of the war were our cousins, Niceno Dinoso, who was concentrated in Capas, Tarlac, and Joaquin Corpuz who was caught in Visayas.