Easter has passed. It was another stretch of daylight in our unending series of lightness and darkness. Except for the calendar and a few hastily colored eggs for the children (with water colors) the day would have passed, like all others, in hopeful waiting. Went to Bacolod to look for table salt. Am using large, yellowish crystals ordinarily used for making ice cream. All glass shop windows are covered with heavy boards, and entrances to the few stores that are open are so barred that only one person may enter at a time. This would prevent rush of pedestrians into store during air raid and stealing from shelves which might result during or after the raid. The
air raid alarm sounded while I was in the drug store. There were several other customers. My heart skipped a beat. I started to cross the street to join friends from the Central who were on the other side. A calm, elderly Philippine clerk in the drug store said, “Be not afraid. Stay where you are. The law forbids anyone going out of building after the alarm has sounded. All cars must stop where they are. There must be no motion and no confusion until the air raid is over or the ‘all clear’ is sounded.”
The “all clear” sounded soon. No bombs dropped. A single Jap bomber overhead, evidently on patrol flight or reconnaissance.
Bad news: Maj. Richard I. Jones, who has been trying to get a definite agreement from Jim for an army allowance for me, has been transferred suddenly to Iloilo. Afraid this means further delay. Am anxious also for Jim to know we are safe. If he was told the request came from me to fill out allotment forms, he would know I was fine and in normal circumstances, i.e. needing money.
War news bad also. Troops on Bataan retreating. Base hospital back of the lines bombed for second time. Casualties heavy. Always after reports like that, I wonder ??? If only we were not cut off from all communications.