WWII DIARY OF

COMMODORE RAMON A. ALCARAZ

DECEMBER 1942

December 3,1942. Through the BC Check Point in Bayombong, I learned that Mr Go Beng's truck enroute to Isabela will sleep in Bayombong evening Dec 7 on return trip to Manila. I made arrangements to board that truck Dec 8 for Manila to get my family which I have alerted a week ago that our house to be rented will be ready and available on Dec 16.

On the subject of check points, the Constabulary (BC) of Vizcaya maintains three check points namely (1) Balete Pass in Santa Fe that controls the entrance to the province; (2) Bayombong where BC Hq is and (3) Bagabag the northernmost town. The main purpose of a check points is to check all civilian vehicles for unauthorized firearms, subversive elements and other items listed from time to time that may be inimical to peace and order.

December 10,1942. In accordance with my plan and with the approval of my Senior Inspector, I boarded Mr Go Beng's Truck for Manila 2 days ago (Dec 8) to get my family in Manila arriving yesterday noon at our Tennessee Residence. Mr Go Beng told me their next truck going to Cagayan Valley will leave Manila Dec. 15 and he agreed to accommodate my family going to Bayombong. Needless to say my wife, Lucy, was so happy to see me back with the good news that she is coming with me Dec 15 with Baby Cecilia now a big baby at four months. Needless to say it was a happy homecoming after an absence of more than a month.

Upon my arrival yesterday, my wife gave me a note from SA Pablo Naval requesting me to call him at a certain phone number when I arrived which I did.

This morning, I got a surprise phone call from Ms Lulu Reyes inviting me to a stag dinner come Saturday Dec.12 which I accepted. I knew Lulu since I was a cadet at PMA as she was a prominent socialite. Now she is a social worker working with Mrs Josefa L Escoda helping former POWs. Her Malate house is only a few blocks away. Since I have not seen Lulu for some time, I am eager to attend her dinner wondering how she knew my presence in Manila and my phone number.

December 13,1942. After Miss Lulu Reyes phoned me the other day about dinner last night, I was curious and intrigued about it - I've not seen her more than two years, how did she know my phone and presence in Manila. What intrigued me more was when she cautioned me that the stag affair was a confidential surprise. I was to be there at 6:00PM last night but I came 20 minutes late. Lulu greeted me warmly and led me to a dimly lighted room where her guests were having cocktails. After I got my drink (scotch & water). Miss Reyes started to introduce me but to my surprise, LCol Manolo Enriquez, (CO 14th Grla Inf who replaced LCol Nakar) my grla boss, took over from Lulu to make a few remarks saying I am Maj Alcaraz, now the senior officer in command of all 14th Inf Gra Units laying low in N Vzcaya. He added that I am the Asst Senior Inspector of the Constabulary, N Viz and my assignment was arranged by him through his contact with BC Hq which made me a double agent.

Manolo then introduced me to Don Juan Elizalde of the wealthy members of Elizalde family in Manila; Captain Juan Calvo, famous Spanish aviator who made the first solo flight from Manila to Madrid: and Col Alfredo Ramirez '14 former UST ROTC Comdt - all three as his associates in the undergground movement. I also noted the presence of my SA Pablo Naval sitting quietly. Manolo made many favorable remarks about our comradeship since PMA days and that knowing each other can facilitate our future operation. After I was requested to make a few remarks, I said it was a privilege knowing and working with such a distinguished group. I reiterated, however, my understanding with Col Enriquez, that to insure security, I am not making anything in writing which to me means death warrant, but all my messages - reports, requests, vital info - will be transmitted verbally by my trusted courier, SA Pablo Naval, who I asked to be recognized. We have been using that system successfully for more than a month now with Col Enriquez, I added .

Apparently, this gathering was the idea of Col Enriquez, a good friend of Lulu way back during our PMA days. It was Enriquez who informed Lulu about my phone and presence in Manila. Lulu still looks beautiful but frankly, I was very uncomfortable with this anti-Japanese Group. Even if Enriquez is the only one in the Japanese wanted list, holding a social like this is dangerous, specially after learning that my classmate, Capt Ed Navarro, an associate of Enriquez is now at Ft Santiago.

We had a sumptous dinner as I was seated between Mr Elizalde and Capt Calvo. I complimented Mr Elizalde for his courage and patriotism and as a generous response, he told me he is allocating a P2,000.00 per month donation to our intelligence funds to help the transportation expenses of SA Pablo Naval. This is a great help as we do not have funds for Naval. Later, Mr Elizalde and Mr Naval talked lengthily on how the donation will be remitted to my office and the location in Manila Naval can contact Elizalde.

The gathering terminated 10:00PM without incident. I was apprehensive all the time expecting something untoward may happen - that the Kempei-Tai will barge in to arreest all of us. After telling Lulu my fears, she revealed that she had an escape plan for Manolo who is the only one in the wanted list. Before I departed, I commended Lulu for her bravery and patriotism, likening her to Joan of Arc.

December 19,1942. Yesterday I found Lulu's stag dinner was LCol Manolo Enriquez idea as Manolo and I were real friends of Lulu during my PMA days when Manolo was my mentor. But it was a risky gathering in Manila where Kempei-Tai Hq is. I hope I will not find myself in future similar situation. In any case, according to previous arrangements, Mr Go Beng and his truck picked me and my family at Tennessee St early morning four days ago (Dec 15) to transfer to Bayombong. My family includes my wife, Lucy, baby Cecilia 4 1/2 months old and my 14 year old sister, Effie. Lucy and Effie are so excited to live with me in Bayombong after hearing about the Baguio like climate of Vizcaya. It was a rough two-days truck voyage sleeping overnight in San Jose, N. Ecija but we finally arrived in Bayombong about 1400 Dec. 16. Mrs Reyes did an excellent job preparing our newly rented house Lucy and Effie both love at first sight.

I reported back for duty Dec 17 and I left my wife and sister settle in our new house which is only a block away. Today the Reyes, Mendoza, Madella, Zuraek, Lozano and Prudenciado families who are our new neighbors gave us a surprise welcome party at Mrs Reyes residence across the street. My family is so happy to meet our new neighbors who are so warm and friendly.

December 25,1942. Halleluyah, we are spending our first Christmas in two years quietly and frugally as dictated by the time. Last night we heard midnight mass by Belgian Fr Lambretch at Bayombong Church overflowing. Today, with the economy going from bad to worst, at least we have a semblance of Xmas minus the usual gifts. Even prime commodities are getting scarcer and expensive as the Japanese occupation forces are living on the land, none coming from Japan or abroad. They get priority on supply of foodstuff and other prime commodities.

As I looked back, Christmas 1941 did not exist for us USAFFE members who were on the run then. The alert orders for the Q-Boats to proceed to Lingayen was changed Dec 24,1941 to escort SS Mayon in evacuating the seat of government led by Pres M Quezon and High Commissioner F Sayre from Manila to Corregidor. Gen MacArthur declared Manila an Open City with USAFFE Hq and USN 16th Naval District also transferring to Corregidor. The Japanese forces had landed in Lingayen Gulf and Lamon Bay three days ago and War Plan Orange was ordered, that all troops retreat to Bataan. The US Asiatic Fleet abandoned us leaving our naval defense to nine Motor Torpedo Boats (3 Phil Q-Boats and 6 US PT Boats). Our Q-Boats were occupied with the transfer of seat of govt for a week. Christmas 1941 went unnoticed. At least we have Christmas 1942 and hope we will celebrate a better Christmas 1943. We can only hope and pray for better days to come.