Living with the Enemy

[VeeVee]

Living With the Enemy
A Diary of the Japanese Occupation
Pacita Pestano-Jacinto



Click to read back cover

I haven't read this book yet except for the nice introduction and the first page. However I saw some really interesting passages and narratives while flipping through the book. It is a different and fresh perspective on the Philippines and Manila during WWII. Any student of the history would definitely gain a lot from it. It was printed in the Philippines in 1999.

I got my copy stateside from ebay but I'm sure any National Bookstore back home would have it available.

I thought the introduction may interest some people to find and read the book so here it is:





Click to see Preface

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According to the Intro, she was a student of Francisco Arcellana and NVM Gonzalez, well known pioneers in Philippine literature circles and academe. They were my professors in Creative Writing and Fiction Writing classes in UP back in 1989-1990!!!

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An interesting excerpt:

Feb. 5
The atmosphere is bittersweet whenever friends get together. Oscar tells me that runners from Bataan have infiltrated the city. There are stories of heavy enemy casualties from MacArthur's artillery fire. Although they seem to be holding their own, it is only a question of time. There are rumors of a convoy coming to the rescue. The enemy must feel that with the Fil-Americans, morale is high.

A runner tells us of the Japanese in the Bataan area. None of them are allowed to light a cigarette after dark for fear of being visible to the Americans. The Philippine Scouts are distinguishing themselves as sharpshooters and daredevils.

[VeeVee]

Just finished this book. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Very compelling. The author's insights even in those dark days were very acute. Her diary not only described her feelings and the mundane day to day existence, but also the big picture of politics, economics, and struggles of those times, ...and everything in between. Very well done.