1. Prepared by: Group I (I – A Psych) Prof. Tessie Tapiador - Sagadraca Project in Philippine History I
2. NAME: Eleanor A. Cruz AGE: 73 years old BIRTHDAY: March 18, 1938 BIRTHPLACE: Naga City, Camarines Sur, Bicol Information about the person interviewed
3. “When I was four years old, my father, Agapito Arroyo, he was a soldier, we live in Bicol that time, wherein the camp of his fellow soldiers are based. In 1941, the Japanese arrived and we need to leave town and move in Manila. We are separated with my father because he was based in Bataan. That time, we can’t settle ourselves from one place because of the Japanese soldiers. We have to go back in Naga City and wait for my father’s arrival.” Interviewee's story
4. “While we are waiting for my father, I witnessed how Japanese soldiers used to hurt and maltreat Filipino women. Even my aunts used to hide under the cabinets, where frying pans are placed. After we saw that incident, we moved again and find another “safe” place to live in for us. We temporarily live in Quezon City. Honestly speaking, we are homeless. We used to dig holes and hide at the bottom of the hole we dug.”
5. “As the second to the youngest, I am a very jolly child. My aunt always want to carry me. There is a time where we used to eat almost raw rice because when we are currently cooking rice in charcoal, whenever we hear the sound of the plane of the Japanese, we immediately kill the fire because whenever the Japanese smelled or saw a smoke coming from nowhere, they’re going to drop bombs.”
6. “The Japanese were very harsh. One time, Japanese soldiers saw my mother while she is breastfeeding my youngest sibling. We run as fun as we can and hide under the banana tree. We really suffered from the insect bites but we need to endure our rashes. My mother used to try hard to speak englishbecause she is mestisa, but she’s not really good in speaking english. My mother was beaten and slapped by the Japanese because they believe that she’s not responding or answering to their questions. Until one of our family friend’s Japanese commander came, he told his fellow soldiers that my mother is not a spy. At that point, they stopped abusing my mother and we already appeared from where we hide. ”
7. There are worse events that I used to witness during that time. Year 1942, I saw the airplane of the Japanese landed down on purpose in the farm where somebody used to harvest his plant. Suddenly, that farmer cut his head and still he was running without his head. I was really shocked and scared as if I like to scream and cry. My father used to tell how he survived the Death March. He told me that he survived that because of the prayed book handed to him by my grandfather. He told me that the book is containing spells. They used to pray it together while walking slowly far from the Death March while they’re not being seen by the Japanese.”
8. “At first, it’s really hard for me to believe but the fact is as if they became invisible to the Japanese soldiers’ eyes. But too bad, three of my father’s friends ran and the soldiers saw them, they’ve been shot to death. We saw my father again at Bicol but I really didn’t realize his face due to his scar and dirt. He really looked ugly and a very old man. But when our dog Tarzan licked and hugged him, I already realized that he’s really my father.”
9. “When Americans came here in our country, everything want back to normal. It was my first time to eat apples and castañas. When I turned 10 years old, I already started to study. We undergo lots of trials but we are very thankful that no one or nobody in our family members was killed by the Japanese.”
10. Our interviewee is the grandmother of Ms.Easter Llantada, member of Group I from I – A Psych.
11. Alabada, Alexandra Marici Elyse Andal, Winlove Dela Cruz, Felisa Bianca Diasanta, Katherine Anne Lazaro, Gillian Lancero, Dondon Llantada, Easter Arriana Rustia, Imari Members of Group I
12. This is the end of her story. We hope you enjoyed viewing this presentation.
