WWII1
19422
Commonwealth Republic3
I was just 9 nine years old.4
There's war between the Americans and the Japanese.5
My innocense is my ignorance but all i know life is was hard6
back then. We hide to live in an Underground Room. But I 7
could just smile with this memory...8
On a gruelling bright yellow morning sky.9
I was walking on my way to school wearing worn-out slippers10
and garbed in a hand-me-down dress. I have 2 centavos on my 11
pocket that my father gave me for my baon.I went through the12
rusty gate of the school entrance. There were only few students13
who went to school during the war and I was one of them. 14
I only see few students roaming on the flagpole field. I can't15
blame them for not going back hence the school was not a conducive 16
place for learning seeing Japanese soldiers roaming on the other 17
side, making the school, their garrison. I looked up at the 18
Japanese flag waving with the wind as i walked through the paved 19
entrance way as I headed to my room. For me learning is fun20
and going to school is a luxury. I get to escape from tiring21
household chores like doing the laundry on the riverbank22
and helping my mother sell fish at the market. I was the eldest23
sister of 10 in the family. 24
't was breaktime. I headed on the flagpole field and sat 25
on the edge of the flowerbox under the shade of pink 26
bougainvillaes and ate my pan de coco watching the children27
play sipa and luksong-tinik. Suddenly a khaki-clad28
Japanese soldier approached my way. My instinct wants me29
to stand and walk away but I just stayed glued on my seat.30
I watched him walk nearer smiling at me.31
"Hi little girl!" he greeted. "My name is Tanaka. Hope I 32
didn't scare you but you look like my daughter."33
"Nice to meet you Mr. Tanaka San," i greeted him back.34
"You must have miss her, that's why..."35
"Yes," he uttered silently as he looked on the ground36
trying to hide his emotions from me. I was surprised that37
I wasn't scared anymore. And was saddened by the sudden38
melancholy on his face.Then he looked back at me, smiling39
bittersweetly. 40
He took his wallet out on his pocket and took41
out the photograph of their family picture.I looked at the42
photograph and I smiled at him confirming what he told me43
about his daughter. in some way we look alike, only she had a44
fairer complexion.45
"Thanks for sharing this with me sir," I told him as46
I stood up on my seat. I apologized I have to go back to class."47
"It's okay, It's okay," he told me with his native accent, 48
his eyes squinting more and more as he smiled.49
"Hope to see you tomorrow and here's a little50
something for you," he said as he took51
the two mickey mouse bills out on his wallet.52
Buy anything you want, " he said smiling as he handed53
them to me and placed them on my palm and enclosed them54
with my fingers. I hesitated getting them and I tried to55
give the bills back to him.56
"Thank you sir, but you don't have to do this, "57
I said.58
"Please take them," he insisted. Treat me like your59
Japanese father. Go back to your room. Hope to see you again."60
"Yes sir, Nice meeting you today," I said goodbye.61
I was already a few steps away from him when he called me back.62
"Little girl," he said, "may I know your name," he asked.63
"My name is Nene," I said and smiled at him and then I ran64
on my way to my classroom with the two mickey mouse bills65
clenched on my fist. I need this money. My mother needs it. i told myself.66
I didn't go to the flower box area, the next day.67
I was already walking out the gate to go home when I heard68
a familiar faint voice calling me.69
"Nene, Nene!" he called. I stopped walking and turn on70
his way.71
"Good afternoon Mr. Tanaka San, nice to meet you again,"72
I greeted him.73
"You're going home?" he asked.74
"Yes sir," I answered. "I have to...my mother born a baby!"75
not minding my English grammar as I squealed in delight at the76
thought of my baby sister.77
"Can I go with you?" he asked. "I want to see your sister."78
I nodded smiling. And he's squinted again as he smiled back79
as I welcomed him to walk home with me.80
"But please wait for me before we go to your home," he said.81
"I am going to get something." Then he headed at their82
head quarter's area and I waited for him on the flower box area.83
He came back bringing basketful of goodies and delis.84
My eyes dilated with delight at the sight of the basket goodies85
tote on his arm. It is just what we needed. My parents were happy86
and thankful to Mr. Tanaka San's generosity. We are 10 in the family87
and my mother just gave birth to my baby sister making us88
eleven in total. And during the time of war, we can't even89
afford to buy those goodies even if we make a good sale out on90
selling fish in the market.School became my favorite91
place because everyday I get to see Mr. Tanaka San and 92
he treats me like his daughter. He teach me with my homework.93
He taught me to count in Japanese and taught me some words 94
in Nipponggo like Konichiwa. He gives me baon and he95
treated me like a father brings her daughter in the carnival96
for the first time. Suddenly, I feel so special during the97
ongoing war. I have Mr. Tanaka San as a foster father at school.98
I don't blame my father for being distant. He grew up in a99
military upbringing and he's busy making a living working100
on a sugar mill at a sugar plantation at Del Carmen.101
But it was the time of war.102
We need to go back to our hide-outs again, living underground.103
And it was time...104
He went to our house105
He was saying goodbye...106
"Sayonara, Nene. I will miss you little girl. 107
I looked at his face, as he tried to smile to hide the sadness108
on it. 109
"You're leaving?" I asked him trying to fight the sobs110
but tears just fell on my face. he wiped the tears that fall on111
my cheeks but the tears just won't stop. And he hugged me tightly.112
"I don't like to but I have to because of the war. I am going113
to leave another daughter again and it pains me. But I have to.114
I'm sorry Nene. I'll promise when I get back to Japan. I'll write115
you a letter. He stood up and I just cried harder like a baby,116
my hands gripped on his army pants. He carried and placed me on117
his back and gave me to my mother's arms.118
"He walked away and went to the army truck.119
And he waved goodbye. "Sayonara," and the vehicle sped away.120
"Tanaka San, Tanaka San!" I shouted calling his name while121
crying as my tears blurrs my vision of him. I ran faster 122
trying to catch the truck running farther and father123
away from me. I saw him waved goodbye again. And saw the 124
tears on his face.Those were the last vivid visions I could 125
picture after the truck eventually fade away from sight. 126
I can't see him anymore.127
I sat on the ground crying calling for his name.128
And my father took me in his arms and carried me home.129
I never saw him again. I didn't receive any letters130
from him. But those beautiful memories he gave were enough131
for me. I don't know what happened to him during the war.132
But I missed him.133
Those were the memories I have during the war.134
I was able to feel a little dose of surreality amidst 135
the harsh reality of terror and horror during WWII. 136
------------------------------------------------------------------------137
"That's why you have a room underground. It was our hide-out 138
during the war," my grandmother told me, at breakfast while139
chatting having a cup of coffee.140
Author notes
a tribute to my lola, my grandmother, my angel
Nenita Vistan Cortez
April 30, 1933 - July 10, 2006
Tagalog
word meanings
baon
b´aon n. provision or supply of food taken on a journey · magbaon, ba´unin, ibaon (mag-:- in, i-) v. to carry provisions or supplies usually food. Magbaon ka nang di ka gutumin. Take enough food to keep you from getting hungry.
pan de coco
taken from pandisal; a pandisal with a sweetened coconut filling.
pandisal
pandis´al Sp n. bread, a kind of french bread
luksong-tinik
(Jump over Thorns)
4 to 8 players
Outdoors, gymnasium
The players are divided into two equal teams. Two players are chosen as mothers of the teams. The rest of the players are children. The mothers are supposed to be high jumpers, for the object of the game is for players to able to jump the height of the hands placed one on top of the other without touching them.
The first to jump will be decided by the mothers, who toss a slipper or wooden shoe. The mother who wins the toss will have the first jump, and the other team players will be the taya (on base).
sipa
Pronounced as: see-pah
Uses a coin-like object (washer) with colorful threads attached to it. This is then kicked (sipa) into the air by the player as many times as he can without the "sipa" falling on the floor.
mickey mouse bill
a temporary Japanese money used during WWII
bill with a high figure of numbers but with
low monetary value
I don't know but I fell in love with the story of my grandmother during WWII. It made me feel the need to write it. I still need to do my research on some sensitive facts in Philippine History.
What did you think? Please comment!
Comments
1 - 12 of 12
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First, it was wonderful story. I enjoyed it from the beginning until the end. I tend to like fiction better than poetry so finding this was a good thing.
One of the many good things about the story is that it introduced me to a slice of the world I usually don't hear about, and of course a time I never saw. I recently was adding some poetry translations that I'd found of the Philippine poet/novelist Jose Rizal to Old Poetry (I help out there) and while his time was before world war two, his story was intriguing...and unfortunate, and I know that shortly after his murder, that my countries' supposed liberation and the occupation of the Philippines during and after the Spanish American War was yet another blemish on U.S. history.
But back to your story. What a wonderful way to memorialize your grandmother, and your own history.
The tone is exceptional, the story itself well told, the dialog is good, and differs (as it should) from the narration.
Were Mickey Mouse bills used in a derogatory term? If so was it based on their relative worthlessness or due to the Japanese?
I am lucky to live in a country that has been relatively untouched by war, by tyranny and political upheaval. I can't imagine what it would be like to live in a country beset by such things.
Thanks for the Tagalog definitions, and if you'd ever like to translate a Tagalog language poem for OldPoetry just yell. Yes, I recruit help when I can.
Thanks, I enjoyed reading your poignant story.
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ah Sir Yem, you found me here...
first I want to thank you for reading this. This story is very special to me, I am actually here at the Underground Room, I used to sleep here. But now, I sleep in my grandmother's room since she died. I made her room my daughter's room and we sleep together there...maybe because I want to think that we're still with her in her room. I always read this, makes me actually miss her. I never felt so alone since I lost her. I grew up with her because I never had my parents. She really took care of me very well. I owe her my life. Sorry Sir Yem for the mush...
I am very happy she told me this. Oh she had told me alot of stories even with the Americans she had met...wish I could write them...
Will go tomorrow on her grave and visit her.
I know there are really mickey mouse bills that was used back then. Although I lack of research with this. I think I blamed myself for not listening on my subject in Philippine History back in gradeschool
and whoa! Jose Rizal, he's our man in Filipino Lit. I had only appreciate Philippine Literature back in highschool when we are studying his two books Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo...which I am proud to say I am listening to my teacher discussed...
and we even have a unit of subject back in College...The Life and Works of Rizal that we've study for a a whole semester which is sad to say I didn't learn anything because what I learnt is the Life and Works of Mrs Rodriguez, my Prof...she was comparing her life to Rizal and ended up telling her story instead...duh...lol
Oh I would love to help with the Tagalog words here. I have also Filipino friends in AP who are really good.
It's nice that Rizal's work are here in AP. I have a Filipino group of Poets here in AP and we all dream that our Filipino poets and writers be internationally recognized...hopes so.
Sorry Sir Yem, I don't want to hurt your eyes with this long reply but just couldn't help it...
Anna Lee -
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Oh and I saw the name "Sense Surreal" on a haiku Mariza wrote (I think that was where) and it was a name I don't remember seeing before and because I'm nosy I had to go see who it was.
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If you or any of your group ever wishes to translate a poem, especially if the author is before say, 1958 (Hence Old Poetry) I would add that poem to the database, or Mariza could, she's a Mod there too.
I have an English translation of Noli Me Tangere, I've had it for years and I just never get around to reading it. It sits on my bookshelf with hundreds of other novels waiting to be read.
I don't get bored easily. Your story and comments about your Grandmother and her life are fascinating to read about...and that you and your daughter still live there, all that stuff is interesting.
Thanks.
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Ancestral energies are important to jot down. I am so very happy and proud that you were able to be there to catch that slice of time...This is an important and well needed read...Now if you pay me with Mickey Mouse Money I will tickle you for a long time...
Thank you, Bunso...
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Thank you Mari...for reading Underground Room...(it's quite long to read)I sleep in this room right now...due to shifting schedules...in here it's very dark and I can sleep and somewhat feel I am sleeping at night. This is my first story to write. I've been writing stories first before I tried writing poetry...only they are sappy love stories...haha.
I enjoyed writing this really and would want to write more.
Anna Lee -
You made everything seem so actual and vivid with your words. Even the feelings are not faded in this story.
I hope you bring more of those memories up and write them down, so we can enjoy the read
Kisses,
Mari
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Kaydee
thank you very much for taking time to read it...and for the heartwarming comments..
Anna Lee -
This is well um sad ... It made me wanna cry, but so heartfelt and nicely written, I am at an awe as to what to say about it all. Well done none the less.
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bravo
a grand insight to the hardships of all war's bore in the children left behind...
It was good to see an Angel was sent to ensure your special qualities that will never leave your character and distinct
personality to appreciate all that comes your way.
an inspiring story you tell well.
thanks for sharing in this moment of history
Tamara
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Thank you sir for taking your time to read my write...truly you made me happy.
it's my first story. hehe
I was so excited writing it. I was typing it for two hours...constructing the format as I typed. and when I was about to finish. The power supply was shut down...and I was like huh. I wrote it again...trying to memorized what I did on the first one. I was able to finish almost an hour.
Thank for your comment sir. I get to see what things I need to improve...I haven't asked my grandma about time and date.I have neglected that part. Thanks for telling me. I've been bombarding her with so many questions.
and as for her relationship with her father. it wasn't a smooth one so I didn't prod more about it but the story is asking more details about it. I'll try to fix that part.
this write made me feel that I need to research more about history facts and i guess I will have to do my homework on my off. ahehe
Thank you so much sir.
I love this story
I don't know why...
Edited on Dec 04, 7:04 because ''. -
This had me rivetted form start to finish. It showed a side of war and occupation force soldiers rarely seen these days. Just one small incoinsistency in the tale- maybe a passage of time could be emphasised- did Nene's father return before Tanaka- San left for him to carry her back home? How did he feel about the 'foster father?' The story, complemented by the background filled me with light on this miserable day.
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