She open the old photo album and told me that she was beautiful back on the days. She smile at me. But her smile faded like a dead rose on a good day. "Tungkol ba sa panahon ng hapon ang gusto mong marinig sa akin? She said.
She is Genoveva Gabriel Gonzales, my grandmother. Born in Camiling, Tarlac on January 3, 1922. Snow hair had been dominating her physical appearance as a cometh wisdom in her 93 years of existence.
Since I was a child, she always told us about her experience on the World War 2. I am not interested on that days. But as I became apprehensive about everything, I want to hark on her story.
74 years ago, Genoveva was 19 years old. She was the oldest among 3. She was aiming for ETC or Elementary Teacher Certificate at National Teachers College. There was no Bachelor's Degree on the early days.
On December 8, 1941, ten hours after the attack on Pearl Harbor, the empire of Japan had started the invasion of the Philippines. Genoveva was forced to stop her studies and she went back to Camiling, Tarlac. She turned up alarmed when she arrived on Camiling.
"Lumikas kami sa bundok habang bitbit ko ang mga pingan. Hindi pa ako nakapagpahinga galing sa Maynila ay nag alsabalutan na kami" She said. They last for about 5 months on the mountains. They went down when the tension had lessen. She said that when they went to the Town, she could not carry anymore the things that she brought on the mountain. "Dahil sa sobrang kaba ko, kaya siguro kinaya kong' dalhin yung mga gamit papunta sa bundok"
Because she was the eldest, she had a responsibility to took care of her younger brother which is 10 years old, and 7 years old sister. Their piggery and farm business was destroyed and snatched by Japanese enlisted men, so Genoveva worked by selling different viand like Dinuguan, Paksiw and Igado, for they need money to eat three times a day, since the Philippines was facing a deep crisis because of war. "Swerte pa nga kami kasi nakakain pa kami ng tatlong beses sa isang araw. Yung iba wala nang makain." She said.
"Bumalik yung mga Amerikano, mas magulo at mas nakakatakot. " She looked at the window. Then she added "Akala ko mamamatay na ako sa mga pangyayari, pati langit sobrang gulo. It was happened on 1944 when the Americans or the return of MacArthur took place. The Japanese enlisted men suddenly came on their home, and snatched it, for there was a deep well for their water supply. Genoveva's Mom, her Brother and Sister hid on the dugout on their home, where Japanese enlisted men stayed.
"Nasa dugout kami ng tatlong araw, walang makain. Hindi rin kasi kami makaakyat sa taas ng bahay baka andun pa yung mga Hapon. Pero si Inang umakyat para tingnan kung nasa bahay pa sila, at para makakuha rin ng makakain" She mentioned. Then she became downcast while saying this words. "Ngunit di na sya bumalik."
Even though I always hear her tell that story, it is still painful to imagine the darkness of situation is.
Genoveva, her brother and sister stayed on the dugout for five days, without food and water. She can't cry because her body dried up. Her brother and sister was very hungry and thirsty. "Gustong gusto ko nang umakyat sa taas. Para sa mga kapatid ko. Pero iniisip ko, kung aakyat at lalabas ako, dinakip at pinatay. Mamatay rin mga kapatid ko. Mas mabuti pang mamatay kaming sabay." He said.
But she considered to faced the reality that all of them will die. If she will die without doing anything, then its blank slate. So she went upstairs, "Huminga ako ng malalim at nagdasal habang paakyat." When Genoveva when to the Kitchen she was confronted by a Japanese official. Saying "Baru buru, Baru buru" Genoveva Deemed end of his life. The official repeat what he had say. "Baru buru, Baru buru and give me sart" pointing at the Papaya. "Ang gusto nya palang sabihin ay Borrow bolo and give me salt para sa papaya."
The Japanese official gave us some food. Genoveva said that the Japanese officials were the kind one and the enlisted men were barbaric.
Genoveva and his sibling were safe. They stayed on their Grandfather's House, after they went out on the dugout. Genoveva studied Japanese language, and after the war, on 1946 he continued her studies while supporting her siblings.
"Kahit wala kaming balita kay Inang o anong nangyari sa kanya, masaya parin ako dahil naging malakas ako sa bawat problemang nakaharap sa buhay ko. She said
-Based on true story but some points had been changed.
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