Prepared by: Group I (I – A Psych)

Prof. Tessie Tapiador - Sagadraca

Project in Philippine History I

NAME: Eleanor A. Cruz

AGE: 73 years old

BIRTHDAY: March 18, 1938

BIRTHPLACE: Naga City, Camarines Sur, Bicol

Information about the person interviewed

“When I was four years old, my father, Agapito Arroyo, he was a soldier, we live in

Bicol that time, wherein the camp of his fellow soldiers are based. In 1941, the

Japanese arrived and we need to leave town and move  in Manila. We are separated with my father because he was based in Bataan.

That time, we can’t settle ourselves from one place because of the Japanese soldiers. We

have to go back in Naga City and wait for my father’s arrival.”

Interviewee's story

“While we are waiting for my father, I witnessed how Japanese soldiers used to hurt and maltreat Filipino women. Even my aunts used to hide under the cabinets, where frying pans are placed. After we saw that incident,

we moved again and find another “safe” place to live in for us. We temporarily live in

Quezon City. Honestly speaking, we are homeless. We used to dig holes and hide at

the bottom of the hole we dug.”

“As the second to the youngest, I am a very jolly child. My aunt always want to carry me. There is a time where we used to eat almost

raw rice because when we are currently cooking rice in charcoal, whenever we hear the sound of the plane of

the Japanese, we immediately kill the fire  because whenever the Japanese smelled or saw a smoke coming from nowhere, they’re

going to drop bombs.”

“The Japanese were very harsh. One time, Japanese soldiers saw my mother while she is breastfeeding my youngest sibling. We run as fun as we can and hide under the banana tree. We really suffered from the insect bites but we need to endure our rashes. My

mother used to try hard to speak english because she is mestisa, but she’s not really good in speaking english. My mother was beaten and slapped by the Japanese because they believe that she’s not responding or

answering to their questions. Until one of our family friend’s Japanese commander came, he told his fellow soldiers that my mother is not a spy. At that point, they stopped abusing my mother and we already appeared

from where we hide. ”

There are worse events that I used to witness during that time. Year 1942, I saw the airplane of the

Japanese landed down on purpose in the farm where somebody used to harvest his plant. Suddenly, that

farmer cut his head and still he was running without his head. I was really shocked and scared as if I like

to scream and cry. My father used to tell how he survived the Death March. He told me that he

survived that because of the prayed book handed to him by my grandfather. He told me that the book is

containing spells. They used to pray it together while walking slowly far from the Death March while

they’re not being seen by the Japanese.”

“At first, it’s really hard for me to believe but the fact is as if they became invisible to the

Japanese soldiers’ eyes. But too bad, three of my father’s friends ran and the soldiers saw

them, they’ve been shot to death. We saw my father again at Bicol but I really didn’t realize

his face due to his scar and dirt. He really looked ugly and a very old man. But when our dog Tarzan licked and hugged him, I already

realized that he’s really my father.”

“When Americans came here in our country, everything want back to normal. It was my

first time to eat apples and castañas. When I turned 10 years old, I already started to

study. We undergo lots of trials but we are very thankful that no one or nobody in our

family members was killed by the Japanese.”

Our interviewee is

the grandmother of

Ms.Easter

Llantada, member

of Group I from I –

A Psych.

Alabada, Alexandra Marici ElyseAndal, WinloveDela Cruz, Felisa BiancaDiasanta, Katherine AnneLazaro, GillianLancero, DondonLlantada, Easter ArrianaRustia, Imari

Members of Group I

This is the end of her story. We hope

you enjoyed viewing this

presentation.