The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-04-10
Rv BETTY BLANCHARD

n bA AANsA~ A~NASS in three jackets as protection against the chilly spring blasts of Ned England, declared yesterday that the peoples of the Philippines islands are hopefully looking for- ward to their independence on July 4 of this year, but in the meantime are in great need of much help from America. Mrs. Trinidad Alam- pry- Albert, of the Manila Y.W.CA., will be the guest of the local organ iZation for several months to study wv. organization. She said she had been assigned to Waterbury since it is one of the newer organizations in the country.
 Well-educated and well-inforned on economic, social, and political problems, the petite lady, wife of a practicing Lllzon attorney, mother of two growing boys, answered each question with much thought. Like all the people of her country who endured four long years of strain and hardShips of war, Mrs. Alberto has not yet recovered her full strength nor her normal weight, which is now "A pounds. It was also apparent the Soul-scars of the bit- ter conflict had not healed and the current difficulties of her people weighed heavily upon her.
 The Filipinos, she said, are meet ing problems at every turn in their war devastated islands. Food is not much more plentiful than at the time of Japanese occupancy. Their rice fields have either been bonb- cratered or are now barren because of lack of cultivation for many years. Machinery, their implements, and their water buffaloS, used in agri- culture, were Syphonned by the enemy.
 Little Food
 The only food relief which the peoples have yet acquired Is small portion of surplus food donated by the U. S. Army.
 A vital need also exists for con- struction materials, to erect shelter in devastated areas the visiting Filipino woman asserted. Though the islands provide plenty of tim Der, the Japanese removed the ma chinery in sawmills, and all build ing implements.
 The health problem looms up, amid the struggle for survival, as the most menacing, Mrs. Alberto explained. Tuberculosis is on the the rampage because of years of malnutrition. Outbreaks of malaria are also frequent and widespread due to the lack of medicines.
 However, the gracious lady, smiled brightly and said with apparent sincerity, that the same unwavering hope that sustained the Filipino people during the dark days of the war, will see them through the re- construction period. Life was never as full in the Americas Far East ern possession as it was in the states, Mrs. Alberto intimated. There has been for years the excise tax on cocoanut oil which has greatly prohibited some 100000 workers from enjoying satisfying wages. There are little more than 7,0O0,- GOO people on the islands. The new Bell bill. inaugurated to extend free trade and to stabilize econ- omic conditions in the Philippines, Mrs. Alberto explained, considerably reduced the export tonnage of sugar.
 Not for a fleeting second, how ever, did the wv. official indi- cate that her people, noted for their courage and their tenacity, might fail to create the more abundant life once they have achieved their full independence.
 Coming Relief
 A large agrarian problem, it is believed, will be put into effect which will provide a homesteader with 8 or 10 hectors of land, which will be cultivated and titled under government supervision. Though payment will be made from pro- duce, the homesteader will be grant, ed year of grace should misfor- tune strike. The government has al- ready taken over many large es- tates for this purpose.
 It is further hoped to establish health clinics and baby clinics JtlOueHOuL tLic ASihAluSs A1iio piS~ gram, underway before the war, was gaining amazing momentum in establishing better health condi- tions everywhere, Mrs. Alberto ex- plained, and the islanders are most anxious to enlarge upon the work previously done. An improved edu- cational system will also be inc augirated.
 Jap Atrocities
 Though the Philippine people were panic striken when the Japanese armies first occupied the islands and offered passive resistance throughout tho years Of suppress sion. Mrs. Alberto explained there were few atrocities during the first years of the olpYosslon. The Jap- q. nE