Ronah

JAPANESE PERIOD INTERVIEW

An Interview with Emilio, my grandfather Ronah: Emilio: Ronah: Emilio: Ronah: Emilio: Ronah: Emilio: How old are you when martial law started? I was 12 years old. Where were you staying? My family and I were staying in Lactawan, Solano, Nueva Vizcaya What was your family setting? Were you with your parents? Yes, I was still with my parents, brothers and sisters. Since you mentioned you were still 12, how did you go about schooling? I was in grade 5 that time but all schools were suspended because of the war. Everyone was always on the run during that time. Whenever we saw a Japanese soldier, we went on hiding. Though, when the Japanese already took over they opened up the school teaching their language but I was not able to go to school because I was then helping the guerilla forces. What was life during that time? Life was so hard because as I have said we kept on hiding, running not to be seen by the Japanese soldiers. We dont know if still our lives will be spared in one day because death can come anytime because of the bombings being done by the Japanese soldiers. How long did you have to stay in hiding? As far as I remembered, we stayed hiding from the time the war started until that time when the Americans came to liberate the country. Did you think you would survive the war? No, because we as guerillas were the object of search by the soldiers.. Did anyone in your family joined the war? Yes I did as a guerilla supporter. There were only the two of us. I was the only boy then in the family. I used to carry a bolo in order for me to survive. What was the one thing you hated most about your situation?

Ronah: Emilio:

Ronah: Emilio:

Ronah: Emilio: Ronah: Emilio:

Ronah:

Emilio:

The reality that the Japanese used Filipinos with covered heads (with bayong) to pinpoint other Filipinos as guerillas. How did you go about food and water? Food was scarce but water is everywhere. We used to eat kamote, kamoteng kahoy and any green herbs just to survive. What was your worst experience? When I and one of my companion got caught and as a result we were tortured by them. They let us drunk buckets of water then stepped at our stomach. Not long anyway I was able to have the opportunity to escape by jumping into the river and hid among the water lilies until during night time then escaped further. What was your closest near-death experience? When the Japanese soldiers fired at the water lilies where I was hiding but fortunately I was not hit and they not saw me. Since you have experienced a lot during the Japanese period and the years that followed, what would be your message to students like me? Be thankful and continually trust God for all the days in your life. He must be your strength and your salvation, if you do this, you can be assured of his protection.

Ronah: Emilio:

Ronah: Emilio:

Ronah: Emilio:

Ronah:

Emilio: