PROJ: MATTHEW FISHER - THE FILIPINO VETERANS RECOGNITION AND EDUCATION PROJECT JUSTINO DE LARA (JL) INTERVIEW BY NOEL IZON (NI) TRANSCRIBER: Estelito B. Vega FILE TOTAL TIME LENGTH: 00:31:05:00 TRANSCRIPT WORK + TRANSLATION TOTAL TIME: 62 Minutes in 30 Pages 00:00:07:00 NI: Mag-uumpisa na po tayo, so ang unang-unang kailangan ko ho na sabihin nyo sa kamera, kung ano pangalan nyo at kung saan kayo galing? IN ENGLISH NI: We will start now; firstly I need you to say in the camera, what is your name and where are from? 00:00:17:00 JL: Justino De Lara, pinanganak sa Makati. IN ENGLISH JL: Justino De Lara, I was born in Makati. 00:00:17:00 NI: Buoin nyo ho harap kayo dito sa kamera, sabihin nyo, ang pangalan ko ay... IN ENGLISH NI: You have to complete in front of the camera, say my name is... 00:00:24:00 JL: April 13, 1918 IN ENGLISH JL: April 13, 1918 00:00:28:00 NI: Okay, ulitin nyo po uli, ang pangalan ko... IN ENGLISH NI: Okay, repeat it again, may name is... 00:00:30:00 JL: Ang pangalan ko ay Justino E. De Lara, pinanganak ako sa Makati. IN ENGLISH JL: My name is Justino De Lara, I was born in Makati. 00:00:45:00 NI: Kailan? Page 1 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:00:46:00 IN ENGLISH 00:00:51:00 IN ENGLISH 00:01:06:00 IN ENGLISH 00:01:34:00 IN ENGLISH 00:01:39:00 NI: When? JL: 1918 noon. JL: 1918 that was. NI: Okay, oh ngayon usap na tayo, so 1918, ano po ang ginagawa nyo bago dumating yung mga Hapon, ano po ang trabaho nyo? NI: Okay, now we talk, so 1918, what were you doing that time before the Japanese came, what is your job? JL: Ah nag-aano po kami ng mga kasama ko, nag- lahat ng maaring pagdaanan ng mga aayos ng kasamang beterano para maayos ang daan. Kami ho kasi ay 41st Engineering Battalion noon eh, kaya kami kung ano man ang ano ang kailangan kami ang nag- aayos ng mga lugar na maaring puntahan ng mga kasama. JL: I was working with comrades to fix the roads and make them passable for our fellow veterans. We were part of the 41st Engineering Battalion, so we report to wherever we were assigned to go. NI: Bago dumating yung mga Hapon, yun ang ginagawa nyo? NI: So before the Japanese arrived, that's what you're doing? JL: Oo, bago naman dumating yung Hapon, kaya noong malaman na, na sabi sa Bataan na ang Hapon, eh nawala na kami, kanya, kanya na ho kaming lakad ng makatagpo kami ng sasakyan sa dagat eh kanya, kanya ng sumakay, noon ho ng lumakad na yun hindi ko ho alam kung saan pupunta. Ng Makarating ho kami noon ko lang nalaman na sa Corregidor na ako Page 2 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:02:46:00 IN ENGLISH 00:02:48:00 IN ENGLISH 00:03:18:00 IN ENGLISH napapunta doon ng mga kasama namin, lahat at halo- halo ho naman eh, hindi naman sa isang batalyon lang magkakasama. Kanya-kanya na hong sakay sa mga sasakyan, kaya kami napunta, napunta ko ng Corregidor. JL: Yes, before the Japanese came, there was news that the Japanese were already in Bataan, so we were dispersed and everyone had to go on his own. When we found a sea vessel, everyone got on board although we didn't know where we're heading. Then we landed on an island. I found out later we were from different battalions were all there in Corregidor. in Corregidor. Everyone NI: Pero ano ka na noon, kasama ka na ng USAFFE? NI: Were you with the USAFFE that time? JL: Oo, pero hindi ko alam na ang mga kasama ko ay kung saan-saan sila napunta, pagkat sila ho ay kanya- kanya ng lakad eh, siyempre parang umiilag kung lang ang kanilang saan ka mapapunta, yun na maaano. Kaya ako doon nagtagal sa Corregidor hangang ma-bomba at at ma-kanyon ang Corregidor. JL: Yes I was, but I had no idea where my comrades had gone, because everyone went on their own. Of course the others were avoiding the real situation, if that is the only option they have. I stayed in Corregidor till the time it was being bombed by the Japanese with their cannons NI: Pero saan kayo nag training po noong military training? Sabihin nyo ulit, nag training ako... NI: But where did you undergo your military training? Can you say I trained at... Page 3 of 30
00:03:31:00 IN ENGLISH 00:04:07:00 IN ENGLISH 00:04:08:00 IN ENGLISH 00:04:09:00 IN ENGLISH 00:04:11:00 IN ENGLISH JL: Nag training ako sa Canlubang, mga ano yun, mga anim na Buwan ang akin, pagkatapos ng pag tetraining, nagbigay ng, umuwi na. Naghintay ng panahon kailan makakapag-serbisyo. Pagkatapos nung ano na yun, tinawagan na ho ako sa serbisyo. Ang aming kampo sa Tagaytay City. kung JL: I did my training in Canlubang, for about six months. After the training, I was released and went home. I waited for the time I would be called for service. After sometime, I was called to join the service and went to our camp in Tagaytay City. NI: Maganda yung kama mo? NI: You had a nice bed? JL: Oo. JL: Yes. NI: Di ano tinuro sa inyo noong? NI: What did they teach you then? JL: Yun nga kami, mga tinuturuan kami nung aming mga kasama na kumbaga nag ko komand na kung ano man ang gagawin pagkat kami ay hindi pa marunong noon, lahat ng maaring matutunan, tinuturo sa amin lahat. Madaling araw pa gumigising na kami para mag-martsa muna o mag ano lang pag aano ng petro, yun ho. Pagkat ang mga kasama ko, naging Kapitan, hindi ko na malaman kung saan naroon, yung iba naging tinyente, pagkat kanya-kanya na hong lakad din. JL: So yes, they trained us there and were given instructions on everything we need to do. We were neophytes and we needed to learn everything that's being taught to us. We have to wake up early in the Page 4 of 30
00:04:57:00 IN ENGLISH 00:04:59:00 IN ENGLISH 00:05:04:00 IN ENGLISH 00:05:07:00 IN ENGLISH 00:05:18:00 IN ENGLISH 00:05:21:00 IN ENGLISH 00:05:38:00 morning to go and march. Some of us became Captains and Lieutenants. I do not know where they were then as we went our separate ways. NI: Hiwa-hiwalay na? NI: Separated from each one? JL: Oo, eh ano yun, doon ho ako nagtagal sa Corregidor. JL: Yes and I stayed in Corregidor for a long period of time. NI: Ganoon ho, naturuan na ho kayong bumaril? NI: So it was that, they taught you to fire weapons? JL: Oo, nag-aaral pa kami sa Corregidor noong pag- bababattery gun pagkat ang dala namin riple hindi namin alam. JL: Oh yes, we were even trained to fire the artillery battery gun. We were only issued rifles then. NI: Oh pagkatapos binobomba na yung Corregidor ano nangyari? NI: After Corregidor was bombed, what happened? JL: Oo, pero noong ilang araw lang binomba ng binomba ang Corregidor at mga kinakanyon na, nasa tunnel naman kami eh, hindi kami makalabas, yun ang ano noon. JL: Several days after we arrived in Corregidor they kept bombing the island. We couldn't go out of the tunnel, so we just stayed in there. NI: Pagkatapos kailan nyo nalaman na sumuko na yung Philippine forces? Page 5 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:05:44:00 IN ENGLISH 00:06:03:00 IN ENGLISH 00:06:05:00 IN ENGLISH 00:06:30:00 IN ENGLISH 00:06:31:00 NI: After that when did you found out that the Philippine forces had surrender? JL: Eh noong sumuko na kanya-kanya na hong pag- aano, dinala na ho kung saan, naiwan ho ako sa Corregidor ng mga kasama namin para ho malinis ang Buong Corregidor, kaya nagtagal ho ako roon. JL: After the surrender, many soldiers were taken but I have no idea where they took them. A few of us stayed in Corregidor to clean up the place. NI: Ano ang nililinis nyo? NI: What did clean there? JL: Lahat ng mga inano ng giyera, na kalat, lahat inaayos naming lahat, nililinis ang Buong Corregidor, pagkatapos ng ilang Buwan, ang iba at ako, dinala na ho ako sa Capas. JL: Everything, the debris caused by the war. It was a total mess, so we tidied up the whole island. After several months, I was brought to Capas. NI: Tarlac? NI: In Tarlac? JL: Oo, doon na ako nagtagal, eh ayun ho ng dumating yung nakaano ng ilang ano, dumating ang buwan ng Setyembre a-primero, lumabas na ho kami para mapunta na ho at sunduin na, sumakay ho kami sa tren para iano sa Tutuban na para mga pamilya doon magkita. Page 6 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:07:06:00 IN ENGLISH 00:07:12:00 IN ENGLISH 00:07:30:00 IN ENGLISH 00:07:36:00 IN ENGLISH 00:07:49:00 IN ENGLISH JL: Yes, I stayed there for a long period of time. But on the first day of September, we were freed. We rode a train to Tutuban station to meet our families. NI: So noong sumuko yung Corregidor, sinama ba kayo doon sa death march? NI: So when Corregidor fell, where you included in the death march? JL: Oo, bale nauna na ho ako roon at natira nga ho ako doon at kami nga ho at noong iba eh naglinis. Eh yung ibang kasama namin nadala na hong una sa Capas. Matagal ho ako sa Corregidor at naglinis ho kami. JL: Yes, I was brought to Capas after the others were brought there much earlier. I stayed in Corregidor longer because we cleaned the place. NI: Eh meron din ba kayong yung mga intelligence report ganyan, di itinapon nyo, sinunog nyo? NI: Did you have those records of intelligence reports, did you throw them or did you burn them? JL: Hindi naman na matandaan sapagkat tagal ng panahon na, hindi o na naaalalang lahat ng nangyayari. JL: I could not recall it, it happened a long time ago, I could not remember what happened then. NI: So, noong nasa Capas kayo sinasabi sa akin noong anak mo nga na mayroong ginagamit na dos por dos na hinahampas yung mga Pilipino, kuwento nyo iyon. NI: So when you were in Capas, your daughter told me that there was a 2" by 2" cane that they used to strike the Filipinos, can you tell me that. Page 7 of 30
00:08:02:00 IN ENGLISH 00:08:20:00 IN ENGLISH 00:08:26:00 IN ENGLISH 00:08:37:00 IN ENGLISH 00:08:40:00 IN ENGLISH 00:08:46:00 IN ENGLISH JL: Oo, sa Capas naman ang nangyayari oras na mga ano pagbibigay ng pagkain naman ganoong lang ang inuulam ay kangkong, yung gulay na kangkong isang sanga lang ang ulam tsaka kanin lang, wala na ho iyon. JL: Yes it's true. During meal time in the camp, we were only fed rice and water spinach, one small stem of water spinach and rice. NI: At tsaka tutong daw ang binibigay sa inyo? Tutong hindi iyong kanin yung nasa ilalim ano, yung ang sinasabi nyong kinakain nyo? NI: I gathered you're only fed with burnt rice, not the white rice, the one underneath the cooked rice, the burnt part, can you say you're eating that? JL: Oo, kaya ang nangyayari sa atin mga kasama eh nagkakasakit, dinadapuan ng malaria. JL: Yes, that is why most got sick, they're infected with malaria. NI: Eh kayo po nagka-malaria kayo? NI: How about you, were you infected with malaria? JL: Nagkaroon ako ng Malaria pero hindi masyadong matagal naka ano kaagad ang katawan ko. JL: I was, I had it, but it's not acute, I recovered from Malaria in a short period of time. NI: So, gaano katagal kayong nahuli ng Japanese? NI: So how long were you kept captive by the Japanese? Page 8 of 30
00:08:50:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:02:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:04:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:15:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:18:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:33:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:36:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:38:00 JL: Hindi ko na matandaan pagkat pagdating ng buwan ng a-primero ng Setyembere ho, lumabas na ho ako. JL: I could no longer remember. All I can recall was that on September first. We I was set free. NI: Lumabas ka sa Corregidor? NI: You went out from Corregidor? JL: Sa Capas kami dinala eh, kami lang na mga natitira roon, nagtagal ho kami sa Capas. JL: We were in Capas, they brought us there, we were the last ones, and we stayed longer in Capas. NI: So Prisoner of War ka sa Capas? NI: So you're a Prisoner Of War in Capas? JL: Oho, pagka-ano noon, aprimero na ho ako lumabas, lahat-lahat na, sa istasyon na ng Tutuban kami dinala, doon ng mga tren, para ano, lahat ng pamilya doon na nagkita-kita para sunduin ho. JL: Yes, I was a Prisoner of War in Capas. When I was freed on September First, we boarded a train that brought us to Tutuban. Our families met us there to pick us up. NI: Pinakawalan na kayo nung Japanese? NI: You were freed by the Japanese? JL: Oho. JL: Yes. NI: Sabihin mo sa akin yun na pinakawalan na kami ng Japanese. Page 9 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:09:46:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:51:00 IN ENGLISH 00:09:57:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:06:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:08:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:18:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:20:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:27:00 NI: Can you say it again, "we were freed by the Japanese." JL: Pinakawalan ng ano para mag ano ng? JL: Freed to do what? NI: Kumpleto mo yung may pinakawalan kami ng mga Hapon dito sa... NI: Just complete that part of the sentence where you said you were freed by the Japanese... JL: Oho, para maging ano ng makapahinga na, parang talagang pinalaya na. JL: Oh yes, we were freed so we could finally rest, they really freed us. NI: Noong pinalaya kayo may sakit ka? NI: When you were freed were you sick that time? JL: Hindi naman ako nagkasakit na masyado, hindi naman ako inabot ng sakit na maaring na hindi na maka-ano. JL: I was not really that sick, nor stricken with any illness that I would be too sick to move. NI: Eh noong sinundo kayo ng pamilya nyo? NI: When you were fetch by your family, tell me about that? JL: Oo, sinundo ako ng mga kapatid ko sa Tutuban para makauwi, ano na eh gabi na ho noon, hatinggabi na. JL: Yes, I was picked up by my brother in Tutuban so I could go home. It was already midnight. NI: Mga ano ito, mga 1943 o '42? Page 10 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:10:31:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:47:00 IN ENGLISH 00:10:56:00 IN ENGLISH 00:11:01:00 IN ENGLISH 00:11:05:00 IN ENGLISH 00:11:08:00 IN ENGLISH 00:11:16:00 NI: Was that in 1943 0r '42? JL: Mga ano ko eh, mga kapatid ko ang nagsundo sa Tutuban para makauwi na, gabi na ho noon eh, tsaka hindi ko masyadong alam kung papaano sa Maynila noon. JL: It was my brother who met me in Tutuban, so I could go home earlier; it was already late that evening. I also do not know the way around Manila. NI: Noong pinakawalan ka ng Japanese, anong taon noon 1942 o '43? NI: When you were freed by the Japanese, was it in 1942 or '43? JL: Bale ano, 1946 na nga yata yun. JL: I think that was 1946, if I'm not mistaken. NI: Hindi '46 liberation na. NI: It couldn't be it was already liberation in 1946. JL: Oo, ano na ho yung giyera, wala na ho nag istap na kaya. JL: Yes, the war is over that time. NI: Pero gaano katagal kang nahuli ng mga hapon, ilang taon? NI: But how long were you held captive by the Japanese? JL: Bale eksaktong beinte anyos pa lang yata ako noon. Kasi beinte anyos na kong maging trainee eh, nag trainee ako ng bale anim na Buwan, di makapag- pahinga, bigla na kung anong taon naman noon para Page 11 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:11:55:00 IN ENGLISH 00:12:01:00 IN ENGLISH 00:12:35:00 mag serbisyo, matagal sa pag-aano ng training na, lahat ng pinapaturo ng mga opisyal, kung ano man ang gagawin, kung ano man ang bagay na maaring anohin, yun ang mga ano. JL: To be exact, I think I was twenty years old. I was twenty years old when I became a trainee, and I trained for six months. After I was given time to rest, I was called into service. The training officers had instructed us on everything we need to do. NI: So hindi ka nakasama doon sa mga noong bumagsak yung Bataan, hindi kayo makakasama dahil nasa Corregidor ka? NI: So were not there in the Fall of Bataan, you can't be because you're in Corregidor? JL: Oo, nagkahiwahiwalay na ho kami siyempre, kanya-kanya hong lakad, eh yung daming iyon eh nagkaka-anohan na eh, kanya-kanya ng sakay at di malaman kung saan kayo pupunta, kaya ko lang ho nalaman na doon nagpunta ako doon ako napapunta sa Corregidor, akala ko papunta na kung saan. Kung ano man, kung sabi ay sabi nyo nung ano eh Pilipinas pa rin, noon ko lang nalaman yun na Pilipinas pala yung ano ng Corregidor, lugar, kaya ko nalaman yun noon. JL: Yes, because we're all in various locations separated from each other, as I said, each one is responsible for himself; nobody knows where we're heading, I only found out later that I was in Corregidor. I didn't even know Corregidor was in the Philippines. I only found out later it was. NI: Pero noong sumuko na kayo sa mga Hapon dinala kayo sa Capas? Page 12 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:12:41:00 IN ENGLISH 00:12:47:00 IN ENGLISH 00:12:48:00 IN ENGLISH 00:12:57:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:00:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:12:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:14:00 NI: When you surrendered to the Japanese. Were you transported to Capas? JL: Oho, ang tagal ho namin doon naka-ilang ano yata. JL: Yes, we stayed there for many months? NI: Ilang Buwan? NI: How many months? JL: Hindi ko lang matandaan kaya pagdating ng a- primero ng Setyembre pinalabas na nga kaming lahat JL: I could no longer remember, I can only remember the 1st of September when all of us were freed from captivity. NI: Siguro ano na yun 1942? NI: Maybe that was in 1942? JL: Oo. Ayun pagkatapos ng ano, alam nyo sa tagal ng panahon hindi ko na maano alam nyo naman ang edad ko ngayon eh, mahigit na isang daan na ako eh. JL: It could be, over time I had already difficulty remembering events because of my age, I am more than 100 years old. NI: Oo isang daan at dalawa? NI: Yes, 102 years old? JL: Isang daan at isa. One hundred one, hindi ko naman akalain na aabutin ko ang itong panahon na maaalay, kasi may nakapagsabi sa akin na magtatagal pa ang buhay mo. Page 13 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:13:38:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:39:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:40:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:50:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:52:00 IN ENGLISH 00:13:55:00 JL: 101 years old, I did not really expect to live this long and reach this period in time. Somebody once told me that I would live longer. NI: Ah manghuhula. NI: Ah, a seer. JL: Oo. JL: Yes. NI: So noong dumating na yung mga Amerikano October '44, ano ang ginagawa mo noon? NI: So when the Americans returned on October 1944, what are doing that time? JL: Ah nasa bahay pa noon. JL: I was at home. NI: Sa Poblacion, Makati? NI: In Poblacion, Makati? JL: Oho sa Makati pa kami noon, eh kasi kaya ako napunta sa Muntinlupa yung Nanay ko eh may sariling lupa roon, eh noong pinaparte na eh hindi ho maparte-parte at hinahanap yung may may-ari, sabi noong abugado, hanapin nyo muna kung sino man yung pinsang buo para mayari na ho iyon. Kaya noong magpunta ho sa akin, sinabing ganoon na ikaw ay may mana na lupa, kasi tigaroon yung Nanay ko roon eh. Ng pinanganak naman ako eh bago lang naman, inatake naman ang Nanay ko sa puso, namatay, kaya maliit pa ho ako naiwanan na kako ng Nanay ko, ang nagalaga sa akin ay yung mga pinsang buo ko, mga Nanay ng Tatay ko. Kasi Tatay ko namatay na ng matapos ang giyera noon. Page 14 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:15:13:00 IN ENGLISH 00:15:20:00 IN ENGLISH 00:15:25:00 IN ENGLISH 00:15:32:00 IN ENGLISH 00:15:38:00 IN ENGLISH JL: Yes, we're living in Makati that time, I only happened to reside in Muntinlupa because we found out that my mother has inherited a parcel of land there. Before the land was subdivided, a lawyer advised our relatives there to look for the next of kin which happened to be me, because my mother was from that place. My mother died after I was born, she suffered a heart attack and died, I was just a little boy that time, and I was looked after by my cousins and my grandmother. My father passed away after the war. NI: So noong dumating ang mga Amerikano nakatulong ba kayo sa serbisyo sa... NI: So when the Americans returned, were you able to provide your services... JL: Oo, awa ng Diyos naman na ano ko lahat. JL: Yes, with God's mercy, I was able to. NI: Nakatulong kayo. sabi nga sa akin ng anak nung tinatanong kung nasaktan kayo? NI: You were able to help but were you hurt? JL: Wala na akong masyadong natatandaan na ako ay masaktan. JL: I have no recollections that I was hurt. NI: Pero ang sabi niya ang sagot mo kasi iniilagan mo yung bala, magaling ka daw umilag ng bala. NI: But I was told you can dodge a bullet, narrowly escaping and you are good at that? Page 15 of 30
00:15:45:00 IN ENGLISH 00:16:06:00 IN ENGLISH 00:16:13:00 IN ENGLISH 00:16:14:00 IN ENGLISH 00:16:15:00 IN ENGLISH 00:16:34:00 IN ENGLISH JL: Meron kasi noong ano, minsan noong naglalakad kami mayroong tumama sa noo ko noon na, ang sumblero pa yun bang, yung pinag ano ng niyog, eh tumama sa noo ko paglagpak yata ay bato na akala ko kung ano na yun, yun ang ano noon. JL: There was an incident when I was walking, something hard hit my forehead. I was wearing a buri hat. I had no idea what it was, but it turned out to be a stone. NI: Sabihin mo nga sa akin yung sagot mo na di ka nasasaktan kasi magaling kang umilag ng bala. NI: Tell me your answer why you don't get hurt that you because you can dodge a bullet. JL: Wala naman. JL: No, that's nothing. NI: Sabihin mo sa akin. NI: Tell me about it. JL: Wala naman akong naano ng bala o ano man, awa ng Diyos, kasi napaano ako kasi sa Corregidor kasi eh, siguro yung mga kasama ko yung talagang ka- kumpanya ko mga namatay na dahil sila ay napasalamin sa akin. JL: Maybe it was God's mercy that I avoided being hit by bullets. My comrades in Corregidor who had died absorbed all the bullets. NI: Eh noong nasa Corregidor kayo lumalaban ba kayo noon doon? NI: In your time in Corregidor were you involved in the fighting? Page 16 of 30
00:16:39:00 IN ENGLISH 00:17:33:00 IN ENGLISH 00:17:37:00 IN ENGLISH 00:17:38:00 IN ENGLISH JL: Nag-aaral pa ho ng, pinag-aaralan pa ho akong ng iba ng masinggan, alam nyo ang dala naming baril noon limang bala lang di ba noong una, da katulad ngayon na kung ano man ang hawakan mo otomatik na sigurado ang, limang bala lang ho iyon, limang putok eh ano ho ang mangyayari, bago kayo makalagay eh todas na kayo. Yun ang gamit pa noong una at wala pa tayong tangke noon eh, wala pang lahat na ano na mga gamit na kung ano man ang otomatik eh maaring siguradong maano ka sa kalaban, yun. JL: I was trained to fire machine guns. Our gun at that time could only hold five bullets in the clip, unlike the automatic weapons nowadays. Imagine fighting in the war with only five bullets? Before you can reload your clip, chances are you'd be dead already. We did not even have tanks that time, no automatic weapons. If only we had them then, we would have had a better advantage over our enemies. NI: Nakita ba ho nyo si MacArthur sa Corregidor? NI: Did you see MacArthur in Corregidor? JL: Saan? JL: Where? NI: Sa Tunnel, doon sa Malinta Tunnel, si MacArthur. NI: MacArthur, in the tunnel, Malinta tunnel. Page 17 of 30
00:17:44:00 IN ENGLISH 00:17:51:00 IN ENGLISH 00:17:57:00 IN ENGLISH 00:18:05:00 IN ENGLISH 00:18:09:00 IN ENGLISH 00:18:37:00 JL: Hindi ho, wala, hindi ako nakakarating doon ni minsan, sa malaking pirmi ang naano ko eh, doon ho ako napaanong maigi. JL: No, I've never been inside tunnel; I was always out, on the larger part of the island. NI: So papaano yung buhay doon sa tunnel, mahirap ba yung buhay? NI: How was life in the tunnel, is life difficult there? JL: Hindi naman masyadong mahirap kung baga sa ano eh regular laang. JL: It's not that difficult, you can say it's a regular life. NI: Pero mahirap daw huminga dahil doon sa tunnel? NI: But it was said that it's difficult to breath inside the tunnel. JL: Kasi malayo naman ang, at kanya kanyang, hindi ang tunnel kung saan-saan kasi na ano yun eh, kaya lang kami na ano noong matapos na, naiwanan naman ako ng, noong matapos ang giyera, lahat ng kasama ko nadala sa Capas naiwanan ako sa Corregidor naglinis ho kami ng mga ano, para malinis yung Corregidor. JL: People stayed in different tunnels, far from each other. After the war, I was left in Corregidor to help clean up the place while the others were brought to Capas. NI: Kanya hindi kayo nakasama doon sa martsa? Page 18 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:18:40:00 IN ENGLISH 00:18:46:00 IN ENGLISH 00:18:53:00 IN ENGLISH 00:19:25:00 IN ENGLISH 00:19:27:00 NI: So that's the reason you were not in the long march? JL: Hindi ho pagkat naiwan nga ho ako sa Corregidor. JL: I was in Corregidor. NI: Mabuti pero madami kang nakikitang kalupitan at pang aabuso ng mga Hapon? NI: That's good, but did you see a lot of cruelty and abuse of the Japanese? JL: Hindi ko na masyadong, kaya lang ay iba ang ano talaga, malupit ang Hapon, lalo na yung merong yung ano sa batok, di pirmerang ano yan, talagang hinahagupit. Eh noong panahon sa Capas eh may mga iba na yung nagbibigay ng pagkain eh, ang ginagawa daw nila ay sinasaksak, yan ang ano. Awa ng Diyos ay iyon ang nangyari. JL: Not so much, but there were Japanese who were extremely cruelty, especially those wearing the Senbou caps, the one with short peak cloth on the back of the head, they are the cruel ones, whip lashing anyone. In Capas there were people giving the Filipino prisoners food, but if they get caught, they would be stabbed by Japanese bayonets. NI: Ikaw, hindi ka naman sinaktan. NI: How about you, did they hurt you? JL: Hindi ho naman ako nasaktan, meron nga ho akong kasama na ang katawan ay, hahampasin sana ako ng, bata pa yung hapon, hahampasin ako eh inawat noong ano. Sinagupa noong kasama ko na parang kaibigan ko na rin. Page 19 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:19:50:00 IN ENGLISH 00:19:53:00 IN ENGLISH 00:20:09:00 IN ENGLISH 00:20:10:00 IN ENGLISH 00:20:18:00 IN ENGLISH 00:20:19:00 IN ENGLISH JL: No not really, they never hurt me. One time this young Japanese soldier was about to hit me when a friend of mine stood up and defended me from the soldier. NI: Natatandaan mo ang pangalan niya? NI: Do you remember his name? JL: Hindi ko na masyadong matandaan kung ano pangalan niya kasi kanya-kanyang ano yun, nagingilag kayo, lalo at malupit yang mga Hapon, konting bagay lang eh na maano sa iyo eh talagang sasaksakin ka eh. JL: I could not recall his name. But in those times you should really be cautious, always wary of the Japanese cruelty. Without any reason at all, you could get stabbed. NI: Hahampasin ka noong dos por dos? NI: Hit you with a two by two stick? JL: Eh yung noong umaano sa Capas kami eh mayroong nagbibigay ng pagkain eh, babae eh sinaksak eh ng Hapon eh. JL: There was this other incident in Capas; there was this woman who distributed food for the prisoners, she got caught, and the Japanese stabbed her. NI: Bakit? NI: Why? JL: Eh nagbibigay ng pagkain eh ayaw nilang bigyan ng pagkain yung kaming mga nabihag noon eh. JL: The Japanese forbade people from the town to give food to prisoners, but she disobeyed. Page 20 of 30
00:20:28:00 IN ENGLISH 00:20:41:00 IN ENGLISH 00:21:00:00 IN ENGLISH 00:20:09:00 IN ENGLISH 00:21:15:00 IN ENGLISH 00:21:31:00 NI: Eh bakit noong ano ang reasoning ng mga Hapon noong pinakawalan na kayo noon sa Capas, baklt pinakawalan kayo. NI: But what is the reason of the Japanese to free the prisoners of Capas? JL: Eh ang sabi eh matatapos na raw ang, hindi ko naman naano, kumbaga sa naano sila ng Amerikano, kaya pinakawalan ng lahat. JL: We learned that the war was over and the American had returned, so they freed everyone in Capas. NI: Nung Independence Day, July 4th dun sa Luneta nandoon ba kayo sa Maynila o nasa ano kayo, nakapunta kayo. NI: On Independence Day, July 4th in Luneta, were you in Manila that time, were you able to attend? JL: Ewan ko lang hindi ko na matandaan kung ano yun, ang tagal ko kasing naano pa sa ano gawa ng kababago lang eh maano pa ang katawan ko. JL: I could not remember, I was just released and my body hasn't fully recovered. NI: So kailan kayo pumunta sa Amerika? NI: So when did you go to America? JL: Hindi ko lang, pagkatapos ng ano ko ng interbyu sinabi sa akin noong nag interbyu makakalakad ka na, kaya hinintay ko kung anong buwan na ako ay pupunta roon. Eh noong dumating yung ano ko sabi eh makakalakad ka na, kaya kumbaga sa ako ho lang ang nagpunta roon kasi sabi ko hindi ko alam kung saan ako pupunta, hindi ko alam kasi noon, kaya ako Page 21 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:22:30:00 IN ENGLISH 00:22:33:00 IN ENGLISH 00:23:01:00 IN ENGLISH 00:23:03:00 lang mag-isa. Kaya noong ako ay makarating na sa Amerika, yung anak kong panganay nagtarbaho na kumbaga nag-ano kumbaga ay hinihintay naman para mag ano yung papel ko, kumbaga nagtrabaho na siya. Noong kami ay magkasama, hangang ngayon kami ay magkasama, lahat yung ng ano ko at noong dumating na yung papel na, kanya-kanya na nagpunta rito. JL: I could not remember, but after my interview, the interviewer told that I would be leaving soon. I waited for months. When the travel documents arrived, I was hesitant to travel to America by myself at first, but I went anyway. When the petition documents came for my children, they came here to join me. NI: Eh maligaya naman po kayo dito sa Amerika? NI: Are you happy here in America? JL: Mabuti ho naman, sana noong ano ayoko ng bumalik eh sabi ng ano, tumawag sila sa embassy na ayaw na raw akong bumalik, sabi niya eh tinawagan ako, Mr. De Lara di maaring hindi kayo pupunta at ang anak nyo hindi makakapunta roon, kaya napilitan ho uli akong magtagal dito. JL: I'm fine; there was a time I decided not to go back, they call the US Embassy and advised them of my actions, they told me, Mr. De Lara, you have to go back to the states, your children wouldn't be able to go there, so I was forced to go back here. NI: Eh ngayon sanay ka na dito? NI: Are you accustomed now to the life here? JL: Oho at hangang ngayon ho dinanas ko na ang talagang lamig at taas noong yelo noong una ho, Page 22 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:23:17:00 IN ENGLISH 00:23:26:00 IN ENGLISH 00:23:42:00 IN ENGLISH 00:23:46:00 IN ENGLISH 00:23:58:00 IN ENGLISH 00:24:01:00 IN ENGLISH noong bago ko dito noon una, matataas ang yelo, hindi katulad ngayon wala ng masyado. JL: Oh yes, till now. I had experienced extremely cold weather here, where the snow stood high then, but not so much nowadays. NI: Eh nakakuha ho kayo ng Congressional Gold medal? Yung Congressional Gold medal nakuha nyo na yung medal nyo? NI: Did you receive the Congressional Gold Medal? JL: Oho, nakuha ko na ho, lalo pa at ibinigay sa akin, inilalakad, inilakad namin sa panahon ni Rumilla na kami ay magkasama samang mga beterano, nilakad ho namin yan. JL: Yes, I got it. We bonded together in getting recognition from the U.S. government with my fellow veterans, like (Guillermo) Rumingan. NI: So noong nakita nyo po yung medalya, ano pakiramdam nyo? NI: When you saw the medal, how did you feel? JL: Ang sabi ko nga eh masaya naman ang kalooban ko, dito ko na nakuha yung medalya, ewan ko sa Pilipinas. JL: Deep inside of me I am really grateful and happy when I got the medal here. NI: Eh nagalak naman kayo? NI: Were you excited? JL: Eh mabuti ho naman, masaya ang kalooban ko. JL: Oh yes, I feel great. Page 23 of 30
00:24:06:00 IN ENGLISH 00:24:22:00 IN ENGLISH 00:24:31:00 IN ENGLISH 00:24:38:00 IN ENGLISH 00:24:58:00 IN ENGLISH 00:25:02:00 NI: Kung, looking back ano, kung ano ang leksyon na nakuha mo diyan sa pagseserbisyo mo. i-recall mo? NI: Looking back, what lessons did you learn in serving your country, any recollections? JL: Nakuha ko ang lahat yung mga ibinibigay sa akin. JL: I got only the benefits that was given to me. NI: Bakit po palagay mo importante na malaman ng mga bata yung mga istorya ng beterano? NI: Why do you think it is important for the younger generations to know the story of the war veterans? JL: Eh kasi ho Sir na ano lang din lahat nila na ganoon at ganito ho ang ayos beterano, kung talagang tutuusin napakahirap ng buhay, lalo na sa Capas, lalo na kami, hirap. JL: They have no idea of the suffering and sacrifice that veterans endured during the war. I learned a lot about the hardships of war when I was in Capas. NI: Ano po ang pakiramdam nyo sa giyera, ano ho? NI: What do you feel about war that... JL: Eh hamo na siya at talagang ganoon ang panahon na ang giyera ay hindi natin maiiwasan yan. Ako man hindi ko akalain talaga na madanas ko ang hirap ng giyera. Noong kasalukuyan ako ay bata pa, gasino lang ang edad ko. Ako'ng talaga kung tutuusin ayoko ho sana maging ano noon kaya nga sabi ng kapatid ko hindi ka maaring hindi ka mag treyning sapagkat wala tayong mga kailangan pagtuntong mo ng beinte anyos mag te-treyning, kaya ako napasubo, awa ng Diyos naman ako eh ng kadete kulang. Kaya Page 24 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:26:03:00 IN ENGLISH 00:26:10:00 IN ENGLISH 00:26:19:00 IN ENGLISH 00:26:22:00 IN ENGLISH 00:26:34:00 IN ENGLISH 00:26:38:00 mapasubo naman ako sa ganyan eh binata pa ako wala akong pamilya pa. JL: I accepted the fact that we cannot avoid war if it's bound to happen. I never expected in my life to suffer the cruelty of war, I was very young then, actually I do not want to go to that training, but my brother said that I had no choice but to go, as there were only few cadets that time. So I went, but with resentment. Training is mandatory when you reach the age of twenty. But with God's mercy and grace, I finished it. Luckily I was single then and had no family. NI: So saan kayo nag kadete? NI: Where were you a cadet? JL: Dito sa Cavite, sa Tagaytay ang kampo namin, sa Tagaytay City. JL: In Cavite at Tagaytay, the camp in Tagaytay City. NI: Natatandaan nyo ba kung ano pangalan ng kumpanya nyo? NI: Do you still remember the name of your company? JL: Oo, kami ay, sa ano ko eh 41st Engineering Battalion pero ang headquarters ay... Oh yes, I was with the 41st Engineering Battalion. NI: So noong nag-aaral ka sa atin, nasa ROTC ka ba? NI: When you were in school, are you in the ROTC? JL: Hindi ho ako nakapag-aral maigi, noong nag-aral ako, inabot ko, kasi wala pang masyado na mga Page 25 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:26:59:00 IN ENGLISH 00:27:01:00 IN ENGLISH 00:27:11:00 IN ENGLISH 00:27:15:00 IN ENGLISH 00:27:34:00 IN ENGLISH 00:27:35:00 eskuwela na mataas, hanggang 6th grade lang ho noon. JL: I did not finish my studies, that time there were only few schools, studied up to 6th grade only. NI: Tapos wala na? NI: After that no more? JL: Oho kaya ho ako nagtitiis na magtrabaho kahit na papaano, mag halo-halo ng, kung merong tumatawag na kasama, ayun mag halo-halo ng simiyento. JL: Oh yes, I endured and did whatever work I could find. If someone needed a mason to mix cement, I will do that. NI: So noong hindi ka na nag-aaral ano pinasok mo, anon ang naging trabaho mo? NI: So when you're out of school, is there any other jobs you worked on? JL: Hindi ho ako, pero ako ho ay, pagkatapos noon, sa kumpanya ay nakapagtrabaho ko doon ako natawag na mag-sundalo, mag treyning. Sa Tabacalera ako nagtratrabaho noon. JL: After a while, I landed a job in a company before I was called in to service for training. That was in Tabacalera, I worked there. NI: Anong trabaho? NI: What was the job? JL: Nag-aano ho ng mga ano ng tabako, yung mga laman nagsasalansan noon. Doon na ho ako inabot ng pag edad ng 20 years. Talagang ayokong mag treyning kung hindi lang kundi lang pinag ano ako. Page 26 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:27:56:00 IN ENGLISH 00:27:58:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:11:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:13:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:25:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:33:00 IN ENGLISH tobacco JL: The Company was manufacturing; I was doing menial jobs there till I was twenty. I really did not want to go on training but I was forced to. involved in NI: It's the law. NI: It's the law. JL: Hindi ko naman akalain na abutin ko itong mga taon na ito, marami akong mga kasama na mga namatay, nagkahiwa-hiwalay ho kami. JL: I really did not expect to reach this far in life; I had many friends who died. We got separated after the war. NI: Siguro wala ka ng mga kasamang buhay pa ngayon? NI: I presume no one among them is alive at this time? JL: Wala na ho kanya-kanya na kasi ano, yung mga talagang kasama ko sa Makati dalawa doon ay namatay. JL: Yes, my real friends in Makati, there were two of them, they're also gone now. NI: Eh yung mga apo mo at tsaka yung mga anak mo, kunukuwentuhan mo lahat ba sila tungkol sa iyong... JL: Are you telling your story to your children and grandchildren, to all of them... JL: Alin ho? JL: Which one? Page 27 of 30
00:28:34:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:38:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:42:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:44:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:51:00 IN ENGLISH 00:28:59:00 IN ENGLISH 00:29:12:00 IN ENGLISH NI: Yung mga anak at tsaka mga apo mo, kinu- kuwentuhan mo lahat ba sila tungkol sa iyong. NI: Your children and grandchildren are you telling your stories to them. JL: Wala pa ho akong apo noon. JL: I have no grandchildren yet at that time. NI: Hindi, ngayon? NI: No, now. JL: Yun na lang ho, isa, dalawa, at yung isa na nasa Italy, tatlo ang anak ko, pero may mga asawa na. JL: I have three children, all married. One of them is in Italy. NI: Kinu-kuwentuhan mo ba sila paglilingkod mo sa bayan? tungkol sa NI: are you sharing with them about the services you did for the country? JL: Yung ano ho, nakalimutan ko na sa tagal kasi alam Siyempre pagka ang panahon. nyo naman nagkahiwahiwalay tayo hindi ko na naalalang lahat. JL: I have forgotten a lot of things that happened a long time ago, you know time has caught up with me, I do not remember everything. NI: Pero maganda pa rin ang memorya mo, madami ka pang naaalala. NI: But you have a good memory, you still remember a lot. Page 28 of 30
00:29:18:00 IN ENGLISH 00:29:28:00 IN ENGLISH 00:29:31:00 IN ENGLISH 00:29:40:00 IN ENGLISH 00:29:44:00 IN ENGLISH 00:29:48:00 IN ENGLISH 00:30:02:00 JL: Ang pangyayari ng buhay talaga kung baga sabi ko nga sa buhay na ito ay hindi ko akalain na abutin ko, na mangyari sa akin. JL: All I can tell you is that I really did not expect all that has happened in my life not even getting this far in life. NI: Mahal ka ng Diyos. NI: God loves you. JL: Oo, sa talagang panahon na iyan, lalo ngayon alam nyo naman na karamihan nun mga ano, kung ano man babarilin ka na laang. JL: Those were the times, you get shot for no reason at all. Not like today. NI: Oo, iba talaga ang panahon ngayon. NI: Yes, time has changed. JL: Oo, lalo ngayon, lalo pang magulo. JL: Yes, but nowadays there's more chaos almost everywhere. NI: Meron ba kong hindi naitanong sa iyo na gusto mong pag-usapan, meron ka bang gustong sabihin? NI: Do you have anything in mind that I haven't asked you that you want to discuss? JL: Wala na ho akong masyadong natatandaan dahil sa tagal ng panahon pagka ano na, wala na ho, ang naano ko ho ay pagtatrabaho na lang, pagkat ako ho ay nag-iisa na lang sa buhay noon, wala na ho yung mga Tatay ko at tsaka yung kapatid ng Tatay ko, mga ano. Kaya kung saan-saan na lang ako at kaya nag-aral Page 29 of 30
IN ENGLISH 00:30:33:00 IN ENGLISH 00:30:36:00 IN ENGLISH 00:30:52:00 IN ENGLISH 00:30:56:00 IN ENGLISH na lang ako ng pag-kakarpintero, bago ko makuha yung pensiyon ko na yan, iyan ang nangyari. JL: I really don't remember much because it was a long time ago. All I know is that I was alone after both my parents and my uncle died, and I learned to be a carpenter to support myself until I received my pension. That's what happened. NI: Eh ngayon ano ang ginagawa nyo para malibang. NI: Well now what are you doing to enjoy life. JL: Wala ho sa ngayon, pagala-gala na lang, kung saan na lang, lalo at kung ano kaya ho ako ay dito nagtagal, naging ano na tong mga anak ko para makasama sila, kaya lahat ng mga anak ko ay andito na ho sila. JL: Not so much now, just wandering around, here and there, somewhere, that's why I enjoyed staying here; all my children are here with me, I could not ask for more. NI: Di buo na ang pamilya mo rito? NI: So you have a complete family here? JL: Wala na ho yung iba, andun mga kasama ko ang mga anak kong lahat dito ngayon. JL: Other relatives have died, but I have all my children here with me. - END at 00:31:05:00 Page 30 of 30