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As fate would have it, somehow during the year 1933, Alicia was born to a U.S. Navy serviceman

and a lowly bar waitress. A humble lass hailing from Baybay, Leyte , seeking fortune in a very young

metropolis known as Manila and a young American doing his duty for good old Uncle Sam.

It was a relationship built on golden hopes. It was a promise for a better life for youthful

Hermogina Agordo, and a vow sworn to by the agile Chris Anderson. They were now doting parents

to Alicia Agordo Anderson, my great grandmother.

Its a cold and wet night in February when I set out to journey back to the days of the Second

World War. I had an ever trusty ballpoint pen as my bayonet, and about 12 sheets of yellow pad

paper to write my draft on. Lola was arriving from an afternoon prayer meeting and fellowship with

her peers, and an hour or 2 would be enough for a siesta. Enough for the memories to come and

take us back to that era. I honestly dont have the slightest expectation of how to conduct this

interview, but I had that gut feel that things were going to be a little less than ordinary.

Lola Alice was nothing like your typical average wartime Lola.

Recounting chronological events of what happened then meant a night filled with emotions.

The years past were rolled into minutes of happiness, laughter, and joy. It meant traces of tears

held back in the swollen, misty eyes of my grandma. It meant a grueling 2 hours of my Lolas

antics and mood swings, embarking on a somewhat endless voyage through the 30s and the

40s.

Nevertheless, Alicia isnt known to be one of the faint-hearted. Her strength is commendable;

the years have taught her to be bulletproof.

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So we begin.

It was December 6, 1941 when the Japanese made it clear that one of their missions during the

Second World War was to steal the Philippines from the Americans when they bombed Manila and

some parts of Luzon. At this time, the eight-year-old Alicia, or better known as Alice, lived in Pasay.

She sat by the window, watching her sister play. Her mother, Hermogina, listened to the radio

intently, hearing every detail about her country being invaded by the Japanese. Alices father, during

this time, was out sailing, serving his country. Alice watched her mothers worried look turn into a

deep, gloomy expression as she wondered to herself: What if papas ship had been attacked? Who

would bring us scrumptious dishes? Who would teach us fun games? Who would tell us fun stories?

Who? She stared at the empty streets as she heard the radio reporting about how many Filipinos

die every second and how Manila, her old home, was bombed. She sighed and wondered what her

mama was going to do.

1941-1944. Empty streets, gunshots and screams from different places. Those were the

years when the Japanese reigned over our country. For an eight-year-old like Alice, she had

remarkable strength. It was as if she was used to hearing gunshots and dogfights from above.

Albeit the fact that her uncle was ambushed by the HUKBALAHAP, and had to join the Death March.

If He would have lived, He would be about 96 now.

Since her children were Americans, Hermogina put all their pictures, documents, relics and

mementos in a big sack and buried it underground. Lost documents, in which would cause problems

in the future. Birth certificates, baptismal certificates and et cetera.

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Sometime later, the neighboring house was made into Japanese headquarters. Hermogina

began to worry. She warned Alice about going outside. The adventurous Alice couldnt resist and

secretly went. While wandering, a Japanese general approached her and told her to come with him.

Hours passed and Alice still hadnt come home. Hermogina started to panic. She couldnt explain

what she felt when she heard a knock at the door and found Alice there, hands full of small cans,

small cans which were filled with food. This experience made Alice stronger and more intrepid, she

told her mama about the kind Japanese general next door. Since then, whenever the Japanese

soldiers ate, they would call Alice to join them. The Japanese general was so fond of Alice that He

gave Hermogina a job as the laundrywoman of the soldiers. This was one of the reasons Alices

family never experienced hunger or felt the temptation of eating grimy and foul food.

About a year later, the Nations condition worsened. People died, people cried, and people were

desperate. People started hiding underground, afraid of getting hit by stray bullets. Hermogina

started to move her family constantly looking for a safe shelter. Alice had a hard time coping, but

remained strong for her mama and sister. Though it was tough, she still considered herself lucky, for

they never experienced what other Filipinos experienced: hunger, destitute, or desperation. She

once said that their time during the Japanese Occupation was much better than the time now, for

then, you knew who you were dealing with.

They lived through the money they earned from selling bananas, peanuts, and sweet potatoes.

They never got sick, and never felt alone for they had companions, some friends and relatives, with

them. Those companions, unlike Alice, were anxious and hopeless. It was like their only sources of

energy were the traits Alice had: bravery, optimism and trust in God.
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Whenever there were dogfights, they hid underground, Hermogina always reminded her

daughter to stay with the group for she was aware of some Japanese men getting young women and

raping them. They were called comfort women and if ever Alice went astray, she told her daughter

to hide whenever she saw or heard Japanese soldiers, even if they seemed nice. Alice always

listened to her mama but there was a time when Alice and their companions were eating and a

dogfight happened. Everyone ran in fear except for Alice, she simply hid under the table and

continued eating. When the others returned, they started to worry. Wheres Alice? Where did that

silly child go? Hermogina was about to cry her heart out when suddenly Alice poked her head out

of the table. Whats all the commotion about? I didnt run because I was eating. You know how I

hate being disturbed when Im eating, mama. Those words made everyone laugh despite the

terrifying encounter they experienced earlier.

This happened again, once or twice, reminding everyone how daring Alice was.

She even once watched a dogfight.

A few months later, though hard to believe, she started to feel scared. It struck her that her papa

still hadnt come home. There were nights when she would cry on her mamas arms because she

missed her papa. She missed the stories, the hugs, the kisses and the treats he would always carry

with him. Why did papa go? she pondered. It was a momentary fixation, and after a few days, the

valiant Alice was back. They moved places again, seeing people die before their very eyes. Many

said that it was a sure thing that the Japanese were ultra-violent, nevertheless, Alice always

remembered her soldier friends, putting into mind that there are always good people who are

different from what they are known to be.

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It was 1944 when the Americans came back to recover what the Japanese had stolen. When the

Japanese knew about this, they burned Manila, leaving only Quiapo church and the tower of the City

Hall standing. During this time, Alice was in Sta. Mesa. She saw Manila burn and couldnt stop

herself from shedding tears. Her old home, her memories with her papa, burned into ashes. She and

her companions were in a place filled with tall trees and camped next to them were American

soldiers; asking them to join them for supper and afterward, Alice and her companions were given

lots of chocolate and extra food. Food, that reminded Alice of her papa but Alice knew her papa

wasnt going to come home, he was now in Heaven, guarded by angels. She looked at her family and

smiled to herself. Everything was alright.

September 2, 1945. This was when the Japanese signed their terms of surrender. The eleven-

year-old Alice was now with her mama in one of those shelters the Americans put up. She smiled

and hugged her mama. The war was over.

They survived it and stayed strong, without getting sick, poor or crazy. Life was great, especially

with her papa watching over them all the time.

Everyone faces challenges; the key is to never give up and always remember that God is with us.