February 11, 1942

Manila

 

The parish priest agrees to use of their convent. Admirable spirit of cooperation.

No. 201 is an old man. He has been all over the world: Russia, China, Japan, America, almost all countries of Europe and all over Africa. Very interesting fellow. He speaks Japanese, Russian, Spanish, English, little Chinese. He has even stayed in New Zealand and Iceland.

Loveliest place for him in the world is Peking. Next, he says, is a place in Africa which I don’t remember now. Third, London. He dislikes America. Likes South America. Likes Baguio, very much.

According to 201, Mrs. Quezon’s farm in Arayat has been completely looted by communists. He said communists entered farmhouse, started drinking, playing piano and finally wore clothes of the President.

I have a slight cold. Was drenched by rain yesterday. Car stalled on way.

Will entrust this diary to 201, when I return to Bataan HQ. He is very paternal. He said: “I am a young kid.” Makes me feel like a child. I am already 21 yrs.

All funds in group 23 exact. Gen’s suspicions unfounded. Several hundred pesos in group 16 unaccounted for!

No. 16’s brother succeeded in climbing old KZRM building, through fire escape, and got Philippine National Anthem for Voice of Freedom. Corregidor had only U.S. anthem.

Price of matches going up. No. 16 said “Price of girls also going up. Even old ones are again in circulation.”

February 10, 1942 — Tuesday

The Japanese were shelling the rock. Only two hits — no casualties.

February 10, 1942

Looks bad for Singapore. The Japanese now have a foothold. I suspect Singapore is not such an impregnable base, after all. The Japanese are bombing and shelling the fortress. It must be hell out there.

Can’t understand Japanese propaganda. Today there is another (news) item stating that conditions in the provinces are normal, and that the people have returned to their daily pursuits. They know very well that provincial conditions are unsettled. False items (i.e., news) will only make the people lose faith in the paper. They should read the story of the boy who kept shouting “Wolf! wolf!” even when there were no wolves. When they report something true, the people will doubt them. Propaganda is effective only when it appears authentic.

Ordered larger maps of Bulacan, Pampanga and Rizal. Stuck colored pins on railroad stations, warehouses and mills. Red for “great danger,” blue for “some danger” and white for “peaceful places.”

Must study increase of personnel and office space. Transportation must be an entirely new section. We will also need another section to take charge of fuel. Rice procurement will increase the functions of the NARIC. Will need a much bigger staff.

One of the Japanese slapped a Filipino clerk. He caught the clerk lying. With the Japanese it is better to tell the truth immediately. I do not approve of slapping. Will tell Mr. Noya to tell the Japanese employees not to raise their hands against the Filipinos. This will hamper the efficiency of the office and may have serious repercussions.

My wife is crying again. She remembers her son. There is nothing like a mother’s love. I did not have the warmth of a mother’s affection. My mother died when I was a baby.

February 9, 1942 — Monday

The President is feeling better. His temperature is down. He had dinner in the house with his family. Planned to spend the night in the house; however at 10:30 p.m. a terrific explosion was heard which shook the windows and doors. After a few minutes General MacArthur telephoned advising the President to return to the tunnel as he feared the Japanese were shelling the island. The President & Mrs. Quezon left right away. I remained. After ten minutes General MacArthur came personally to the house to tell me not to go as it was all safe. The President did not return.

February 9, 1942

The provinces of Central Luzon are in turmoil. Gunmen in every corner. Killings every day. Banditry rampant. The Japanese are impatient, angry. They burn, kill, pillage in retaliation to attacks on their garrisons. Fields are razed to the ground. The harvest is reduced to ashes. Suspects are tortured. Many have fled to the mountains. Houses are abandoned. Such is the report of Sanchez, Ballesteros and Lorena, who have been sent to survey provincial conditions, to provide the NARIC with an idea of the obstacles confronting the procurement of rice.

There seems to be no coordination regarding the issuance of passes. A man wanted a pass from us but it was so delayed that he left without it. He obtained instead a pass from the military garrison in some municipality in Nueva Ecija. He brought the rice here, was given a truck pass in Balintawak and he sold the rice to others. These loopholes must be plugged. If there are exemptions, controlled economy cannot be a success. Control must be applied equally to everyone. If privileges are granted, the system will fail, because a black market will be created. The true import of the things I am forewarning, is not yet fully appreciated. Only time will justify my fears and determination to enforce the law strictly, without exemptions and privileges.

Saw a pair in a dokar. The boy looked around, thought nobody was looking at them, then two shadows blended into one. Stolen kisses have a strange enchantment. Ah! for the days of my youth.

February 9, 1942

Manila

Great change in the City. A lot of dirty Jap soldiers walking up and down Manila sidewalks. Plenty of soldiers. Had to bow. Saw several people slapped. Must not smoke before sentry.

Manilans go around in bikes. Japs in cars. Many dokars and carromatas. Even race-horses are now being used to pull carretelas.

Manilans seem to be very optimistic. They expect Bataan boys to attack any day now. Constant rumors that the USAFFE is already in Pampanga, that the convoy will arrive in a few weeks, that thousands of Japs being annihilated in Bataan, that USAFFE has a secret ray that blinds the enemy; that the Virgin has appeared in Bataan front.

Saw several trucks covered with vegetables. Awful smell. Underneath vegetables were corpses of soldiers. They will be cremated in San Lazaro.

Many weddings. Cupid and Mars go hand-in-hand. Would like to see my parents but I shouldn’t. Tempted to dial Morita’s number to just hear her voice.

A lot of new Jap cigarettes: Wings, Cherry, etc. Many Manilans have taken to pipe smoking. There seems to be a spirit of novelty going on. Manila is not as gloomy as I thought. Life is not so bad. I wish I could tell boys in Bataan to stop worrying.

Heard a good story. Jap sentry in Avenida Rizal stopped a man for not bowing. He grabbed man and slapped him. The man ducked. Jap got sore and slapped man again. Man ducked again. Jap grabbed man by shoulders then swung him around. Man landed on his feet, stood erect. Jap grabbed man again but this time, man held Jap and threw Jap on ground, flat on back. Man ran away. Wottaman!

Can hear roar of many bombers. They will probably bomb Bataan.

(later)

Met 105. She’s charming, about 28, sure of herself, flirtatious and undoubtedly the type that’s known life. She gave complete reports on Jap bigshots. Will dine with her tomorrow. She says I am younger than what she expected. She says my face is familiar but she does not know my name. “Maybe I’ve seen you in Zamboanga before,” she said. Very tempting type. Also quite smart, maybe also intelligent.

Boulevard filled with people, more than pre-war. Manila is enjoying itself. Don’t they realize that just across the Bay thousands are dying?

Saw many familiar faces in boule[vard]. Hid myself in car. There was Delia biking. Nice girl. Saw Nena Liboro talking to Manolet near Aristocrat. I think I saw Baby Pam also. She was riding in a dokar with a mestizo. Saw Oscar, Emilianito Lizares, Yolanda Marquez –all well-dressed. I am appalled. Manila is having a good time despite everything, is this indifference or resiliency?

Can hear Aquino speaking in radio right now. He is appealing for “cooperation to the end that Asia may be for Asiatics forever.”

Radio news augurs bad future for Singapore. I wonder how strong the British are in Singapore. Japs, I must admit, are winning this war.

Convinced that men in outpost commanding northern route are of poor calibre. Very mediocre report received from them on enemy concentrations, troop movements, dispositions. Tested them on gun identification, plane identification. Some didn’t know difference between fighter and bomber! Others were just spending funds on girls.

On way here, I saw boys giggling. I looked up. Saw them as they were. One was young, shapely. Japs are military and biologic.

Completed arrangements regarding relay of reports from northern provinces. No need of circuiting them through Manila. Operator said transmitters can be installed in cascoes. Japs will have harder time localizing it that way. One operator studying triangular transmission to offset Jap radio-finders. Intrigued by radio broadcasting. Would like to study this matter in spare time.

Will dine with her. 105 is very interesting.

(later)

Good, pleasant dinner. She said she is a widow of an American officer. She gave several green jokes. She said I must stop being business-like and be more friendly.

After dinner, we had a couple of drinks. I’m afraid that although she can take her drinks, she talks too much when under influence of liquor. She insisted on dancing but I said I didn’t know how. This made her more insistent because she wanted to teach me. Told her I was sleepy. She felt insulted. She slept in the next room.

February 8, 1942 — Sunday

Attended Mass early (6.30 a.m.) in the tunnel of Battery North also know as Battery Kysur.

The President’s temperature continues, not very high, but he feels uneasy.

Passed the night in the house. SS Legaspi sails for Panay.

February 8, 1942

A very busy Sunday. How I wish I could just stay home and smoke and tinker around the house and plant in the garden! There is nothing like a quiet life at home.

Mrs. Dolores Paterno de Tuason together with other members of the Tuason family have about 3,000 cavans of palay in Marikina, Rizal. Mrs. Tuason has 1,000 cavans immediately available and the other 2,000 are still to be threshed. Made the following offer after due consultation with Mr. Noya: (1) If taken from Marikina by NARIC, ₱2.50 per cavan of palay. (2) If brought by Mrs. Tuason and placed in our warehouse, ₱2.75 per cavan of palay. (3) If she will place the rice at our warehouse here in Manila ₱6.80.

The Japanese have a Filipino informer in the office. I don’t care if they have a thousand and one spies in the office as long as they are honest. But if the informers are the first ones who are crooked and I cannot take action against them because of their particular position, the office morale will be undermined. Which reminds me of what Confucius said: “Exalt the straight, set aside the crooked, the people will be loyal. Exalt the crooked, set aside the straight, the people will be disloyal.”

Oh well, this is not the era of Confucius. This is the era of Confusion.

February 8, 1942

Manila

 

Contacted Bataan HQ and reported arrival destination this evening. Everything progressing satisfactorily. Had a hard trip: climbing, walking, walking.

Will go around tomorrow and observe city after work. Met officer in charge of Manila transmitters. He says Jap raided one of our radio sets two hours after sending messages day before yesterday. “We have to keep on moving,” he said. He recalled that a week ago he placed radio transmitter in a rice sack and passed a Jap sentry. He stated that when the sentry started pinching the rice sacks his heart leapt to his mouth. “Fortunately,” he said, “the sentry was careless.” The trigger-men were ready in another carromata following him just in case sentry discovered sending-set, he said.

Will go to Malate Church tomorrow and meet No. 105 at appointed time.

I am afraid a friend of mine, Rey Hipolito, recognized me, despite dark goggles and broad hat. He shouted “Philip!” but I pretended that I did not notice him. Maybe he is doubting if I was myself. I hope so.

I think I’ve forgotten my pass-word.

 

(later)

 

Evening. It is warm. Had good shower bath. Great relief. Had darn good meal: eggs, ham, chicken with salad and pie. Just found out 105 is a nice-looking girl, woo, woo.

Will someday write about this experience: the long hike, trails, suspense, sleeping in the open, the Sakdals, feelings on seeing Manila, espionage work, etc….

 

February 7, 1942 – Saturday

9 a.m. Another meeting of the Cabinet. The telegram, prepared in draft, was re-read and corrected and shown to the President for final approval. He then passed it to General MacArthur for transmittal to President Roosevelt. The telegram will someday become a historical document of tremendous importance. I hope it will be well received in Washington.

As a result of this work and worry the President has developed a fever.

February 7, 1942

I was at Corregidor Wharf to welcome M/S Kolambugan that arrived 0730 today from another “smuggling trip to Looc Cove” similar to what we did a week ago. This time Q-111 is the escort with Capt. Navarette CO & Sqdn. Comdr. and Capt. Panopio with the Kolambugan, a confident veteran now.  After our successful “smuggling opn” a week ago, USAFFE Hq adopted the SOP I established specially the coastal zigzag route. The indefatigable Maj. Rueda was able to procure another 3,000 tons of rice and 200 heads of cattle for USAFFE Hq to risk another attempt. I briefed Capt. Navarette and Cap Panopio on the SOP and the trip is successful. There is another “garapon” of pancit molo for the President from Rueda so I accompanied Navarrete to deliver it as he did not know the Quezon Lateral.

I was surprised to see the president very sick, constantly coughing still upset no reinforcements are coming. However, his eyes brightened when I gave him the flag of his sunken “Casiana” retrieved by my Gunner Sgt. Figuracion. Considering the 100,000 people in Bataan we have to feed which includes 20,000 civilian evacuees, the foodstuff smuggled by Kolambugan twice is just a drop in the bucket but it helps postpone the half rationing schedule being planned. Meanwhile, fighting continuous in the Battle of the Points behind the II Corps of Gen Wainwright with the enemy slowly being decimated every passing day.

On my way back to Q-112 at the wharf, I encountered my classmates Lts. Bartolome Cabangbang, Tomas Tirona, Damian Pavon and Alberto Aranzaso all PAAC pilots now without planes assigned to the AA Batteries in Corregidor. Aranzaso is one of our early heroes with Capt. Villamor shooting down enemy planes. It was a happy brief mini-reunion.  I felicitated them for their accomplishments as well as their comrades with the PAAC Inf Bn under Capt. Pelagio Cruz, my provincemate, that fought and defeated the enemy that landed behind our MLR  in the battle of Aglaloma Pt. The Voice of Freedom announced the heroism of this Bn as a Unit and cited the following officers awarded the Silver Stars (SS) for gallantry in action at Aglaloma: Capts. Pelagio Cruz; Eustacio Orobia; Pedro Q. Molina (Quezon’s nephew); and my Mistah Lt. Victor Osias. With the 5 SS earned by PAAC last Dec, they now have a total of 9 SS according to my book.

Amazing planeless PAAC, they still manage to earn SS as foot soldiers to show the world how versatile the USAFFE men are fighting in the jungles of Bataan that included young boys of a tender age like those Ateneo ROTC Volunteers very loyal to their Commandant, Capt. Eugenio G. Lara ’38. News report states that the Japanese are poised to land in Singapore which is supposed to be impregnable and defended by the British Forces.

February 7, 1942

The Japanese may be slow but they are very thorough. With them, everything is planned. I noticed that when they arrived in my office, they had maps of the city of Manila. Our rice bodegas were marked in their maps with Japanese characters. They did not need guides to direct them to a place. They just used their maps. It is plan, plan, plan with them. I wonder what happens when things don’t work out according to plan.

Mr. Tani of the Industrial Department, Army Administration Building, requested me to give him the latest report on available food supplies and building materials.

Mr. Noya told me today: “From now on, we will wage a full campaign to purchase rice. Move at our best efficiency beginning Sunday.”

Must make arrangements for gasoline. Fuel will be very necessary in the rice purchases.

Send one NARIC representative to each province to find out who are those who need our help. Try to get police protection.

Organize a special body and send them to the provinces, to gather rice whose owners are not known. Guards may be needed.

The success of rice purchases is important. If it fails, the people will not have their main food.

On my way home, I noticed Japanese soldiers playing with little children. They seem to be fond of babies and flowers. Those soldiers probably have children too in Japan.

War may make soldiers act like brutes, but deep down, they are human. So very human.

February 6, 1942 – Friday

The President called a Cabinet Meeting at 9 a.m. He was depressed and talked to us of his impression regarding the war and the situation in Bataan. It was a memorable occasion. The President made remarks that the Vice-President refuted. The discussion became very heated, reaching its climax when the President told the Vice-President that if those were his points of view he could remain behind as President, and that he was not ready to change his opinion. I came to the Presidents defense and made a criticism of the way Washington had pushed us into this conflict and then abandoning us to our own fate. Colonel Roxas dissented from my statement and left the room, apparently disgusted. He was not in accord with the President’s plans. The discussion the became more calm and at the end the President had convinced the Vice-President and the Chief Justice that his attitude was correct. A telegram for President Roosevelt was to be prepared.

In the afternoon we were again called for a meeting. We were advised that the President had discussed his plan with General MacArthur and had received his approval.

February 6, 1942

Col. T. Uzaki, head of the Army’s food division, together with six other Japanese, went to San Fernando and other towns accompanied by Julian Reyes, to survey the rice situation. Conditions in Pampanga are unsettled. Life is unsafe. There are many ghost towns. The people have fled to the mountains.

The Manila Railroad lines will probably be opened on February 10th up to San Fernando and transportation of freight will possibly commence on February 18th, according to the Japanese supervisor.

Must estimate quantity of palay available in Pampanga. Exact quantity must be known. The Army authorities may give NARIC permission to use railroad. Every inch of space in the cars must be utilized for cargo.

Ask Tanco to determine the daily capacity of mills in Pampanga.

A friend of mine told me to be careful. “The Japanese,” he explained, “have spies in every government office.” Only those who do wrong need be afraid.

February 5, 1942 — Thursday

Got up at 5 a.m. Shaved, took a bath etc. At 6:45 a.m. left the house for the dock with Vice-President Osmeña, Chief Justice Abad Santos, Captain Andres Soriano, Major B. Diño, Medical Service and Lieutenant Jose Abad Santos, Jr. The launch Baler took us to Cabcaben where we arrived at 7:20 a.m. General Francisco, General McBride, Colonel Sellick, Colonel Jalandoni and Major Gavalen were waiting for us. On three cars we proceeded to the evacuation area N—1 which is near Cabcaben. The camp has been recently organized to accommodate the civilians that evacuated from the towns recently occupied by the Japanese and from the mountain regions which fall within the zone of battle. General McBride informed me that the first information that they had received was that the evacuees numbered about three to four thousand. This figure was wrong because there were about ten thousand already. The camp was fairly well organized each family having built a small bahay kubo under trees so as not to be seen from the air. The problem of sanitation is serious. There were some places with a strong odor of human excreta. I talked to the doctor in charge and to the evacuees. From this camp we walked through fields to the Base Hospital N—2 U.S. Army which is about half a kilometer from this camp. We met the Commanding Officer Colonel Vander Broughest and he took us around to the various wards, all placed in the open air. I saw many Philippine Army officers and enlisted men, and also some U.S. Army. I distributed some packages of cigarettes and they were all happy to get a good smoke. I also distributed matches and soap. In the front these three articles are in great demand. Soap is so scarce that officers and men have to wash their underwear, without soap, and use them again without ironing. I was surprised to see among the wounded Lieutenant Orobia and Lieutenant Molina of the Air Corps. They were wounded in the battle of Aglaloma where 200 Japanese were able to land.

Upon leaving the hospital we took the cars again and proceeded to the Command Post of General Francisco which is in Km 166. He was busy studying maps and giving orders. I walked to Manolin’s place which is about 300 yards from General Francisco. Lieutenant Colonel Roxas and other Medical Officers were all together. Manolin had his bed and tent nicely fixed under a large tree. While at General Francisco’s Command Post I phoned to Lee Stevens who is a Captain and is assigned under Colonel Quinn in Motor Pool N—2 at Lamao point. I asked him to meet me at San Jose but unfortunately we were delayed and he left before I could see him.

From General Francisco’s place we went to General McBride’s Command Post situated in the interior of the forest. While we were seated there having a cup of coffee, a Japanese plane passed by and circled around apparently on observation. General Marshall came from his Command Post to talk to me regarding the pay of civilian laborers. He was under the impression that the Commonwealth Government was paying them per diems in addition to their pay from the U.S. Armies. I informed him that this was not true. We talked with Colonel Fischer who is handling the G—2 work of the H.P.D.

From here we proceeded to base hospital N—1 which had been transferred from Limay to “Little Baguio”. It was neatly kept. Colonel Duckworth the Commanding Officer took us around the wards and operating rooms. I saw for the first an X-ray unit similar to the ones we ordered before the war broke out and which we never received.

Then we proceeded to Km.172 the old Command Post of General Francisco which has been transferred by Colonel Luna into an evacuation hospital. Further into the interior of the forest the evacuation camp N-3 for civilians was being installed under the supervision of Captain Gonzalez Infantry U.S. Army and Dr. Baltazar of the health service, brother in law of Lieutenant E.D. Rufino. Nice place now. I believe it will be damp during the rainy season.

Then we proceeded to the evacuation camp N-2 for civilians situated above Mariveles. There were serveal families from Bacolor. They were happy to see us. A young lady approached me and said: “General, how is Charito(Nucay), your little girl”? “I believe she is all right”, I answered. “Give her my best regards, I am Socorro Sarmiento, her teacher in the Assumption Convent”. What a coincidence! To find in “no-mans land”, living the life of a soldier, the teacher of my child.

Then we proceeded to the Headquarters of the Philippine Army where I conversed with the officers and discussed with them several problems presented to me for decision.

From here we went to Barrio San Jose near Mariveles. This hour (3 p.m.) being the time when the Japanese planes invariable bombard the airfield at Mariveles, General McBride suggested that we take the cut-off. I readily approved not only because I realized that the Mariveles road was an inferno every afternoon, but also because I was not familiar with the cut-off. I did not regret having taken this decision. The road is really picturesque, crossing the mountain ridge giving the traveler, a wonderful airplane view of the surrounding country and the Mariveles bay.

On the road we passed the prison compound. General McBride invited us to see it. It is a huge place surrounded by two walls of barbed wire three meters apart. Within the compound the prisoners were separated into small sections. In the left corner there were two enemy aliens (Germans); they looked well fed and contented. In an middle section there were ten Japanese wearing a black blue Kimono which had white letters on the back P.O.W. (Prisoner of War.) I was informed that they had ten prisoners from the Philippine Army and I asked to see them. I was allowed to enter the compound but I was made to leave the pistol with the guard outside. Lieutenants Ponter and Medden U.S. Army did the same thing. As we entered two additional guards rushed to the rear part of the compound and guarded us while I talked to the men. I found that 7 out of the 10 were in for desertion. I investigated them briefly and I became convinced that the charge of desertion could not be proven. They were soldiers left behind when their units changed positions in the battle line and had been lost. As a matter of fact they had been asking for the position of their units.

From here we continued our trip to Barrio San Jose, Mariveles, where the launch Baler was waiting for us. We arrived at 4:50 p.m. Just as we stepped out of the cars and began walking down the cliff to go to the beach we saw three Japanese planes returning from their bombing expedition to Mariveles and apparently were on their way to Cabcaben.

The wind was blowing hard and the waves were larger than usual making it hard for us to board the launch. We were finally carried by sailor to a boat which took us to the launch.

We arrived at Fort Mills at 6 p.m. Too late for dinner, had to dine at the house.

February 5, 1942

Japanese civilians entered a friend’s house, started playing the piano and asked him to introduce them to his daughters. Such abuses must be stopped. If the Japanese do not respect our homes, what will they respect?

Lt. Kubo was in the office from 6:45 until 8:30 p.m. investigating all our data on cassava, camote and corn.

Mr. Noya requests statistical figure on the average prices of different commodities according to percentage. Statistics on the following are being asked: (a) foodstuffs, (b) textiles, (c) rent, (d) metals.

Worked till eight o’clock. Am very tired. Indicated to Mr. Noya my desire to resign. But was refused. Resignation will be taken as a hostile act.

My daughter is playing the piano. When one is weary, music is very soothing. It is a refuge from the ticking of typewriters, the ringing of telephone bells, the hustle and bustle of clerks and stenographers, visitors and men complaining about their rice rations and computations of possible rice procurements, and the thousand and one things that occur day in and day out in the office.

She has stopped playing the piano. She is talking to her sister and they are laughing. Their laughter is also music to my ears.

Daughters in a home are like flowers in a garden.

February 4, 1942 – Wednesday

I awoke at 7:20 a.m. It was too late to attend Mass, so I continued to sleep. I got up at 9 a.m., and found Manolo in the house arranging the food supplies received from the S.S. Legaspi. He told me that Captain Andres Soriano was in the tunnel. I saw Andres and we invited him to have an improvised luncheon with us. He ate voraciously. We again had supper together and he will spend the night with us at the house. He will go to Bataan tomorrow with me. After the dinner the President sent word that he wanted to converse with Soriano. They went to the tent while I went to USAFFE Headquarters to phone General Francisco regarding our trip tomorrow.

I returned home at 10 p.m.

February 4, 1942

Received news from my son, Philip. One of his men came here at home and reported that Philip is alive and in good health. He said Philip is now in the Military Intelligence Service of the USAFFE.

The man said that life in Bataan was hard, the fighting fierce, malaria and dysentery rampant, and the food very scarce. “We eat only a handful of rice everyday,” he revealed.

He said he would tell Philip that we are all well, thank God. “Your son is worried about you,” he said, “but he will be pleased to know that everything is all right.”

The man left as quickly and as mysteriously as he came. He vanished with the night. He did not even give his name.

Maybe he was Philip’s guardian angel.

February 4, 1942

Provost Marshall’s Office

Corregidor

 

Will sleep with men here tonight. Tomorrow we will leave for Maragondon, Cavite. From there we shall take the mountain trails up to Ternate or Naic and then get any bus or carromata that can bring us to Manila.

Men are all excited. Two of them are now having a haircut. Had a shave and a haircut too. One of the boys is memorizing the code.

Was looking for Col. Roxas but he is now in Bataan inspecting lines. Saw Major Romulo this afternoon and he gave me more canned tuna fishes and cigarettes.

Had a short chat about old days in Manila with Bob Huffcut of the High Commissioner’s staff. Bob has been at home several times.

Japs have started shelling Rock from Cavite. This shack is badly damaged. There is a big hole in the roof due to shelling. Many laborers killed.

Men in Rock are in good spirits. High morale here. There is a strong rumor that the convoy is arriving in a few weeks. Also rumors that troops from Visayas will be landed in Corregidor and Cavite will be attacked.

Spent part of the afternoon reading I. Cobb’s book. Lots of humor. That’s what we need these days: humor. A lot of things have to be laughed off.

Part of rail line leading to Malinta Tunnel has been destroyed by bombs. It looks like a twisted rope made out of iron.

Will give final instructions to men tonight. I already told them that anybody who thinks he does not want to take unnecessary chances need not come. Everybody raring to do his bit.

Nice moon. I wish I could write poetry.

February 3, 1942

“Stiff penalties for profiteers,” says the Tribune. Good. Profiteers feed on misery. Their lives must be made miserable. The worst kind of birds are scavengers. Profiteers are scavengers.

Price of rice today for sellers: ₱6.80 as paid by J. T. David in Bulacan. ₱7.00 as paid by Mariano Tinio in Nueva Ecija. Many of my friends have congratulated me. They say “All commodities have gone up except rice.”

Effective tomorrow, market dealers will be paid a salary of ₱60 a month, according to Mr. Noya.

If we fail to procure enough rice, the Japanese supervisor stated that the Army may import rice from Japan.

I believe that as long as we don’t have to feed the Japanese Army, we can take care of feeding ourselves.