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Picture of Basilio J. Valdes

Basilio J. Valdes

Basilio J. Valdes, M.D. (July 10, 1892 –January 26, 1970), soldier, doctor, cabinet member, businessman. Chief of Staff, Philippine Army, 1939-1945; Secretary of National Defense in the Quezon and Osmeña War Cabinets, 1941-45. Professor of Surgery at the University of Santo Tomas (UST), Medical Director of Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, 1948-1970.
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February 1, 1942 — Sunday

The President is quite depressed. He spoke to General MacArthur about his trip to the U.S.

At 9 p.m. I was in the house and heard a plane. I called the attention of Colonel Nieto and Major Romulo to it. We all thought that it was our own plane. Suddenly the Machine gun of the 92nd C.A. which is near the house began shooting, followed almost immediately by the alarm. We did not go to the big tunnel. We just went to a small tunnel of the North Battery commanded by Captain Farris a Catholic Officer in whose command I heard Mass last Sunday.