Lydia Villanueva Arguilla 5% Sk Lydia Villanueva Arguilla (1913-1969) did not become as famous as her husband, Manuel E. Arguilla, the great writer who died at the hands of Japanese soldiers during the Second World War; but she did write some memorable short stories before and after their marriage. After the war, Lydia Arguilla wrote “Yours, Faithfully” (Philippine- ‘American, 1945), a story about American soldiers enjoying the company of Filipino women after the Japanese had been driven out of. ‘Manila. One particular woman—the central consciousness—insists on meeting one particular soldier on her own terms. The result is a story that reveals, in mostly dialogue format with a letter tacked on at the end, the mind of a mature Filipino woman. Read against the background of Manuel Arguillas heroic death, as well as the war itself, the story d national tragedies and personal dilemmas. This isa offers a way to wee story about two kinds of violence—the violence of war against human beings and the violence of men against women.youRS, FALTHFULLY ( 1945) .d stuck out my left thumb, Ajeep with 1N THE CORNER an ‘weft lieutenants in it pulled up to al ‘ Whi ich way are you going; please? Ismiled my best bumming. a-tide-smile. heart.” i ire going, sweetheart.” tunel ‘vant driving moved into the back seat ang I Jimbed in front. It was April of 1945. Baguio had hot fallen, Nor Ipe Dam, Nor Cagayan Valley. American soldiers smiled at every Flin The novelty of the V-sign and greeting of “Victory, Joe!” d not yet worn off. sae Mp nanes Oren,” sid the by athe wheel “And mine’s Harry. What's yours?” I told them, “How about a date, honey? We're a couple of strangers in this town, We dont know anybody. And we like to dance.” Acouple of Americans. We waited for them three years, Friends, Even if just met them. It isn’t done in this country, but it would be now, I turned to Harry because I liked Oren better. “Are along, 00?” “Why; sue. Kyoucan get mea gi that looks like Ann Sheiden,” “Til try my best, Harry.” I didnt like him very much, “You mean we got a date?” asked Oren, “Sure You asked for it. Here's where I get off Thank ' much boys. Seyou what tne?” 8 ON Thank you very There was tobe boating, © boat was out of nd took pict you coming Pictureaking, dinner, and dancing, order. So we drove out to the Chinese tes. | wonder how many snapshots wentback to the State Yours, Faithfully 129 aon of Channa, othe GIs in the Philippines against a back g hinese pagodas? hilippines against a back- Rose is half-American. fair skin, and if she didn't look oes But in her great desire to b eyes, chestnut-brown hai < wn hair, very 7 actly like Ann Sheridan still she and I kn ew Harry would like her. : 1e Friend) ‘i iy of American slang she gave rah = with her limited vocabu- and Harry started off well enough ijimpression of being fresh. She pret began to get under her skin. She didn't li his arm around her for a a rae Hike when he red op their arms around a girl unless she is a spl Filipino men don’t put ieee ct arabe can movies to understand that an American a enough Ameri- shoulder could mean simple friendliness, fats arm around a girl's myself that Harry was just a wee bit more ue mst admieven ries le cain he ae cee friendly. another-gitl attitude toward her and no self-res aa es that just- in ahe world would feel flattered by it. Ie sopesing Bit anywbere fle while the way Oren said “sweetheart” or “hone hing 00, Ina [ike a gun moll. The way it’s said, not what's said be The ie sad. I regretted having accepted the invitation. +h tet very ‘Acthe restaurant where we were o have dinner, I decided t lay the cards on the table. ‘Look, fellows, before you order anything I few things straightened out. We came out with you because ty soon Harry's teasing want a youre ‘Americans. You came all the way across the ocean to liberate our country. Tomorrow or the next day you may not be here. You said you wanted to dance. So do we. We can help you to a nice, clean, good time. But if you expect kissing and petting thrown in you won't get it. We don’t go for that sort of thing.” “You got us wrong, honey.” “Tt depends on you what kind of evening you want. Its still early. The sun hasn't set. You have time enough to find yourselves some other dates. We can stop here now and decide not to go on together the rest of the evening.” “Sweetheart, if we wanted loose girls we could have them any time, But we like you. We don’t want any other date. Please go on with us to the dance.”130 LybIa ViLLaNvEVA ARGUILLA Tewas Oren who spoke. Hooked at Harry. | ides like hiss “Ie not being uppity. But we cant help being wit a a We donit want you to expect something you wont Bet ane’ then feel eypped when you dont ger it you want a different Seni from the one we can share with you, that's your business. Onl leave us out of it.” : ‘ “Don't get us wrong, honey. We like you just aa ane Okay? Now that we're all straightened out, do we go on with the evening? “How about you, Rose?” “Tes all right. I'm going on.” ; We got a good table—right where bled inte ee “For a guy who likes to dance, I ful,” Oren said. “I've been dancing for years and never improved.” “like to make people mad,” said Harty. “The trouble was that you girls didn't understand us American boys at oe meant no harm,” “| didnt like your language,” Rose laughed. “That's cee row wee fiends ‘What didi you like “Your language. You said ‘hell’ something, “T meant no harm, honest, I didnt. You said you were out with a colonel last night. And I said, ‘What are you doing now with a mere lieutenant? That's a comedown. Least you could have gotten ‘was a major” And then you sat away and pretended to be peeved, And so I moved farther away to the edge of the jeep and I said, ‘If she wants colonels; to hell with her.’ I was just kidding,” “In front of a lady you just met, hell is no word to use without begging her pardon.” Harry laughed, “Maybe youre right at that.” “Fine,” I exclaimed, “can this be the dawn of understanding?” “Don't try fancy words on us, honey. We're lowbrow Ameri- cans, All we talk is slang,” “Tlike slang. Teach us the latest. Were three years behind. Waiter, can we have paper and pencil, please?” “You're cooking with gas.” “Whats that?” “Tt means you're all right. Youre cooking on the front burner Boy: oh boy! Look who's coming this way. She could eat hay out of a bottle.” everybody coming in stum. Idance aw.“Why? ' “Strictly from Yours, Faithfully 131 rhea unger hat’ not kina! Means she's ug 7 ugly.” “But true.” I aughed in spi “This ce cream get I a0 . anything beer This ice econ, nT iMG eco ene Airy: se we can't get aro ere’s a Casanova fae ee “A Casanova, He doesnt ri thinks every gil will swe, in Bil He co op Hell out ine That his gua, De Ls seg - Hell cutin. I hate his gus. Do you know what eee “in history he was a famous ox Jouknow whats Canon 2 Ha, ha. That’ tight.” . ; Oren said, “I tell you she's smare” ‘And youre condescending,” I said “What's that? Oh! I didn't mean to be, 5 . Sorry.” Harry laughed. “Wasn't what?” “Condescending.” “Why were you sorry, then?” More laughter. “Seriously, honey. I like you. You’ ice girl. I’ and take you to the States.” ? ee “Oh, you big snowman!” “That's no snow-job. Wish I didn’t teach you that expression. Canttyou tell the difference between asnow-job and the real thing” “Sure I can.” : “love you. Youre clean and decent. You believe me, don't you?” “If you believe yourself, sure.” “{ mean it, honey.” “Yes, you met me this afternoon.” “But I’ve been looking for you three years. T've never met any- one like you.” “There's nobody like me. That's a nice tackle. But you're not ‘Howin I doing, Harry?” he beam.” scoring any points. “You're on the ball, sister. You're on tlmueva ARGUILLA vitan Lypis What the mater, Oren? my language bo ey ou moping about? Straighten out and Aly rights» He ” moaned Oren, “Than! » What are P y aching bac c aoe 1 ed allthis anyway? 7 hada god time, honey. Honest, Idi. The dance and every, a ee Only, I'm sorry about the first Patt of the date, Rie ive us, wont you? We drank a little bit before coming Le you. We weren't sure you'd keep your date. Wort you 3 ead ? [like to talk to you, Soft music. Less crowd. Nor tah-rah ike tonight: Maybe 1 made a bad frst impression, But Pm rally nice. Give me a chance to prove it.” He smiled, a smile You'd cal} disarming. / “The evening was most educatio: too. Good night.” “Do I see you again?” e Yes cif nal. And | enjoyed the dance Il Lovely, quiet evening, Candlelight. Red tablecloth. A git! at the piano, “It seems unbelievable that you and I should be talking here like this, you a Filipino and 1 an American, Never in my wildest dreams did I ever imagine myself in Manila, sitting at this table, at this moment, with You. Three years ago I was in college, Working my way. Making good Money, too. I won't have trouble about ajob when I get back. My job’s waiting for me,” “Is ita job you like to do?” “Yes. Metals, | work And honest. For a while j “Did ie turn out all right?” "No. We both decided wed made Whew! That put the fear of God in since, I've sobered down abit. This boys like me. And yet when I see th, a mistake and got a divorce, me. I let her divorce me. Ever war has aged me as it has other ruins of your city around mefeel har what we've . ego. Yours, Faithfw seal in the landing aad aoe inhflly 138 dine why should [ya season here me when I first saw M, get, have fel “Why grief?” “Ie was, t00. I felt like cryi been before. Down in Ree ein and nowhere to go but ja programs for sightseeing ioe rough in th h ; Solomons, in New Guinea, eae nothing in comparison. lanil ta sy . I ony Cat 8 spasm of gif come over ig. Wasn' nea, wher that strange? I'd never Nez where we had noting ose up on Manila and drew ,—but Just to h ee " ae = of our minds we A pass the time, you Janned. about your Walled City, ee gee 7 jai-Alai, and the ni jrclubs....And then to come at t las FFrubble. ell you that was when | a : find nothing but heaps gs you do about your city.” ‘earest, I think, to feeling “Thank you. You don’t know é wh: the way you do.” nee tee tans Pocee “you don't know what it means to have you sit th id ere an listen. In the Army...but there I go again. I'll sound like gripi iping. ‘And maybe Jam.” “Go on. In the Army...” “In the Army you get lost among so many others. You all dress alike, day ae day out, eatidentcal food, form lines. Your entity, your person: ity, is merged ~ the mass. You become part of an operation, 4 strategy or youre just waiting. You, for yourself, don’t matter. If you die, there’s always someone to replace you. You're a government issue, just like your clothes, shoes, rations, one detail in a gigantic effort to preserve @ so-called way of life. And you don't always see where you are heading for. In your little sphere within the Army, and because you're just one of millions and nota general, you see all the little irritations, pettiness of rank, privilege, Army politics. You wonder sometimes, lying in your bunk in the dark, ‘God, why am I here? How did I get here?” “Do you mind if [hold your hand? I just thought: Here I am. The war is not over. Outside is a city in ruins, But here within the glow of many candles (I am glad there is no electricity yet and we have to use candles), in here is peace and quiet talk and friendship.” “That is a lovely piece. “White Christmas.’ Shall we dance?”RGUILLA Lyon Vintawveva ARGUILL yo! ‘ine girl plays beautifully. I can only guess. But that son, so many boys homes hen they hee it me : eee you mean. Have you ever scen snow?” “T know 14 8 Muse ae res. se ee see and feel snow. I'd be happy to teach you tn ke snovballand bud a snowman and skate.” ram sure you would” I laughed, “and thats no SMOW-job edhe,» Ore shendbackandaghd "Leb oothare ays h?” a coped briefly on the loor. Other dancers turn 2s, Laughing, we wale bik oour abl." must hae mk zal impresion on you thi evening, Tell me did I thou “Yes and no. Or I wouldn't be here with you,” I answered, “You haven't talked much about yourself. Where did YOu live? Wha diyou do before the war You dnt lok like a War Suffers But could anybody have lived three territory and not suffered?” “T used to live near the sea, one street removed from Dew, Poulevard, Thad everything my here could wish forthe mary loved, a comfortable home, books, orchids and the porch, friends dropping in every now and then, Everything is gone—as though a siant bulldozer had passed over my life and reduced every wall and post to rubble.” “Tm sorry.” ed £0 look years in enemy-occupied “Twon't shrug my shoulders even to cheer you up. I have de. Pressed you, I know. For me, it was the end of a happy life. I could die now and not really care. And it wouldn't be dramatics either, In normal times, personal calamities like mine stand out. Bur ny fate is chat of millions. To tell it to You is to repeat a story that you have heard and will hear over and over again in this country. And yer simply because its not isolated does not make tragedy any easier to bear for each individual.”_—_ mf nd a typhoon were jy M. ¥ just feel vaguely n Ma fours, Fai jus! gucly sorry for then aNd I hy Faithfully 135 ever came out here, yes. B MSs of ay ~ But n honymous sei | wouldnt Ot now, Neus sufferers, Befe ‘ jefore | think of actual Filipi ipinos I } r would be very active, very at come to len, TA think of you. I They're closing up now, c OW. And my sympa “Oh, Ihade’t noticed” “Ny “How soft and cool h the night j. Sullweukeasinn ooo «{ think not, Oren. Pve got «On such a beautiful evening MO" work’ But j evening, you ‘Morrow morning.” word work.’ But just as you say, lady, j have to mention the ne, Well, here we are. We have rere 8 ¥8 Sy te eal «So we have.” ial : “Don't go in yet just this mi i What's that sound?” Hnute, Listen! Can you hear that? ; at? ‘Do you mean the frogs croaking?” fg that what i is?” “Have you never heard frogs croak?” “Listen. They've got a band leader!” “Sure enough.” “They've stopped! All of a sudden. Now why did they do th o that? le ‘ard about it oyou ever wonder about such things?” “Yes,” “You're crazy; then. So am I.” “Thank you.” “Honey...” “Don't. Don't spoil it all. It’s been so perfect.” “['m sorry.” “Good night.” “Good night.” Dear Oren—it was a lovely evening. You made it so. And it wasn'ta dream, though in a way it was. And as dreams end so does this one—at its loveliest and best. ‘An hour of beauty and trust and friendliness in a world of dis- in—surely it is something worth illusionment and ugliness and pai136. LyDiA VILLAN' va ARGUILLA _ — keeping and remembering so. God bless you and keep you for more gracious days of Peace, of permanent affections, of safe and measured living. God keep for you that interrupted college education, family and friends and white Christmases, God grant you a soft spot in try—you and all the other Amer back from the invader what is o Yours, faithfully... home, your heart always for my coun. cans who came over to help us get ur Own.