DECISION TO RISK IT IN TOWN With our children crying for food when we woke up, and without any food that we brought with us, I was able to convince Pat that we should return and stay in the house we left in town, where our food supplies of rice and brown sugar were left; […]
Archives for January 2018
1994 Memoir – 128. Evacuation
EVACUATION Immediately Bayombong became a ghost town, with the Priest and the Governor leading the people across the creek west of the town into the rice fields of Barrio Apad where they evacuated. The Bayabos family fled across the river to Barrio Paitan, with us following closely behind them loaded with our three small kids […]
1994 Memoir – 127. Bayombong Bombed!
The next visit of U.S. planes over Bayombong brought destruction to the town, with bombs and strafing rounds killing lots of people. The church building and convent were totally demolished and burned to the ground. Several large buildings, including the Provincial Building and the theatre, were demolished. The entire commercial center was destroyed. Our neighbor’s […]
1994 Memoir – 126. Sad New Year
On the eve of the New Year, Pat’s mother died. We buried her on New Year’s Day, January 1, 1945, in the town cemetery. She died an agonizing death. May her soul rest in peace. After her burial, plans were made by us to evacuate to Barrio Paitan across the river, where the Bayabos family […]
1994 Memoir – 125. U.S. Planes On Rizal Day
Very early in the morning, policemen went around the town announcing a meeting of all persons at the town plaza to celebrate RIZAL DAY. It was an order to be obeyed! I left Pat with our kids and joined the big crowd around the plaza, on December 30, 1944. The program barely started when across […]
1994 Memoir – 124. Lined Up To Be Executed
Pat’s mother learned of a faith healer outside of the town at the side of Bañgan hill before reaching Busilac. Desperate for any remedy, she made arrangements for her healing ritual, which consisted of chicken and pork together with spices to be offered by the healer to her gods for their help in healing her […]