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October 5, 1942

We are very peaceful here as we cannot hear any shooting to disturb the tranquility of our surroundings. Yesterday morning planes flew over a short distance from us, but we were composed knowing they had no objectives here.

We haven’t heard any news since we came, but there are still streams of people on the road evacuating to safer places.

We sent two bull carts back to Barotac this morning to pick up more of our belongings and the two birds. We have also found and secured a small nipa house located further inland toward the mountains in case we have to leave Estrella’s house which is right alongside the main road. A big fight between the Japanese and the USAFFE forces is expected any day. If the Japanese should be successful and break through the USAFFE or guerilla lines, we will have to leave this house right away as the houses along the road are being burned by the Japanese and civilians are being killed.

Yesterday a man came by who had escaped from Iloilo and he told us that there is a food shortage in both Iloilo and Jaro, and some people are eating only once a day, and others have only boiled rice to eat. We are very fortunate here as there are vendors who come every day with fresh fish and shrimps. I still have a supply of canned goods, but must use them sparingly.

A 5-gallon can of kerosene is 50 pesos ($25.00) that is, if you can find it. A 21⁄2lb can of KLIM (powdered milk) is also 50 pesos. Chickens that were 20 centavos each (10 cents) are now 1 Peso (50 cents) and the prices are rising.