Evening star., 1945-06-11
Manila IN Ashes
KaIa1V Declares
At Savre Lunch
BY Catherine X. Hambfey.

Damage to the Philippines was
estimated at $1,000 100000 by DR..
Maximo M. Kalaw, a member of the
Philippine governments cabinet as
Secretary of Public Instruction and
Information, at luncheon given
by Mrs. Francis B. Sayre over the
week end at the Sulgrave Club in
honor of the Philippine YWCA.
He explained that three-fourths of
Manila lies in ashes and that there
is room for every agency capable of
making physical or spiritual con-
tribution to the Philippines. The
doctor, formerly dean of the College
of Liberal Arts, University of the
Philippines, expressed faith in the
effectiveness of the YWCA toward
the reconstruction of the islands.
Though Manila is dead, DR.. Kalaw
emphasized that the spirit of vic
tory lives on as it has during three
years of Japanese occupation when
the distinguished author viewed it
after withdrawing to the Philippine
hinterland rather than remain and
serve the Japs as collaborationist.
Without minimizing efforts of de-
finders of Corregidor and Bataan
the guerrillas and the underground,
DR.. Kalaw described how the peas
ants, rustic individuals of the hill
country, were the real heroes of the
islands. Even the most remote viii
lage could boast such resistants
who, by shielding and feeding guer-
rillas, made 1t possible for them to
carry on against the conquerors.
These heroes were captured and tor
tured but never "squealed," having
faith that the Americans would re-
turn as they had said.
The speaker recalled how one
laborer died from the effects of the
water cure without revealing the
hiding place of so guerrillas. His
betrayer, woman, was killed in
turn because, when he could not be
made to talk, the oppressors believed
they had been misinformed.
A factor in the "invincible spirit"
Of the Filipinos, manifested in every
phase of their life during the occu-
patton, was their sense of humor,
one of the greatest bonds between
them and the Americans, according
to the speaker. When forced to read
Domei news, they laughed and nick
named the agency, "Disseminator
of Most Erroneous Information"
Shortly after the Japs introduced
their co-prosperity policy, a Japa-
nese officer took a group of Filipino
and Jap divers out into Manila Bay
to investigate whether boat could
be refloated. Two Jap divers went
down and never came up but both
Filipinos reappeared on the surface.
The officer questioned the Filipinos.
One replied, See this belt I am
wearing! Co-prosperity is written
across it. When I went down a
shark came up but when he read
co-prosperity on my belt he swan
away. Even the sharks can't swal-
low that"
The invaders, DR.. Kalaw con-
tinued, apparently were warned of
the high position enjoyed by Filipino
women in contrast to the servile
status of their own wives. One day,
seated next to Filipino woman on
a public vehicle, he saw two drunken
Jap soldiers get on. Frightened by
the men, his companion prepared to
get off but had to pass between the
two drunks. Glimpsing her, they
muttered, "Oh, yes, in Manila ladies
go first!"
1t. Carlos and 1t. Gregorio Rom
ulo, sons of Brig. Gen. Carlos P
Romulo. previously scheduled to
speak but detained in San Fran