Our first trip the following morning was to the City Hall, where Pat and I reported and registered, I as a released POW, with Pat as my guarantor that I would not join the guerillas.
Our next trip was to the Red Cross, where we got some “chupas” of rice, soup, and milk for Tony.
Then we visited a Dispensary nearby for admission as a walking patient sick with malaria, anemia, and beriberi, with loose bowel movements.
There I got a shot and was given advice how to improve my health by eating bitter food for my malaria, as there was no medicine whatsoever left by the Japanese, who confiscated the medicines for their use.
The only transportation was the streetcar and horse-drawn carriages called Calesa for the small ones and caretella for the bigger ones, drawn by a single horse, and “docar” for a large one, drawn by two horses. Bicycles became a necessity for transportation.
Only Japanese Army vehicles and cars powered by gas were seen on the road.
The radio was announcing the victories of the Japanese and defeats of their enemies.
People started smoking home-made cigarettes and hand-made cigars.
Food became scarce and very costly.
Prime commodities such as soap, matches, rice, lard, candles, sugar, milk, butter, and salt were rationed.
Every day we saw people lining up for rationed commodities. Few stores were open, for lack of goods to sell.
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